The Australian Government and NSW Health are updating information regularly. This information is a guide only. Please check the relevant government websites regularly.

Can a registered nurse, enrolled nurse or midwife, who is not an Authorised Nurse (or Midwife) Immuniser, administer COVID-19 vaccines?

Yes, all registered nurses, enrolled nurses and midwives may possess and administer vaccinations, including COVID-19 vaccination, as part of their normal duties when they have an order from an authorised person. This includes nurses and midwives registered on the Pandemic sub-register.

The order can be a standing order as noted in Standard operating procedure for administration of COVID-19 vaccines in NSW vaccination clinics PD2021_013.

However, only suitably trained and qualified people can administer vaccines routinely.

All registered nurses and midwives administering any vaccine must be familiar with the procedures as outlined in the Australian Immunisation Handbook regarding preparation, route of administration, preparation of the person receiving the vaccine, vaccine injection techniques and injection sites.

AHPRA has provided additional FAQs here, noting that www.health.gov.au is the official site for the latest information about the novel coronavirus pandemic.

Can a student nurse or student midwife administer COVID-19 vaccines?

Yes, as of 28 June 2021, nursing and midwifery students can administer COVID-19 vaccines under certain conditions. This only applies to students working in a NSW Health vaccination clinic. The student nurse or student midwife must:

• successfully complete additional training on vaccination administration
• be enrolled in an NMBA approved course leading to registration as a registered nurse (division 1) or midwife
• have completed the 1^st semester of year 2 of their full-time course (or part-time equivalent)
• have undertaken at least one clinical placement

The student must work under line of sight supervision of a Medical/Nurse Practitioner, Authorised Nurse (or Midwife) Immuniser or Registered Nurse (year 2 and above).

A student can administer but not assess patients for their suitability to receive the vaccine or to obtain informed consent.

See the Statewide Protocol for the Supply or Administration of COVID-19 Vaccine PD2021_034 and Standard operating procedure for administration of COVID-19 vaccines in NSW vaccination clinics PD2021_013 for more information.

Can any other persons administer COVID-19 vaccines?

Yes, Assistants in Nursing and previously registered nurses and midwives can administer COVID-19 vaccines at NSW Health vaccination clinics (a hub) under certain conditions.

Assistants in Nursing

Assistants in Nursing can administer COVID-19 vaccines at a NSW Health Vaccination Clinic if:

• they hold a Certificate III Health Service Assistance (Assisting in Nursing Work in Acute Care); AND
• can demonstrate relevant clinical experience in NSW Health
• they complete additional training on vaccination administration as directed by NSW Health.

Previously registered nurses and midwives

• As of 1 September 2021, persons previously registered (in the past 10 years) as a nurse or midwife may also administer COVID-19 vaccines at NSW Health vaccination clinic.
• To participate in the vaccination rollout, the previously registered nurse or midwife must make a declaration about any adverse findings by the National Registration and Accreditation Scheme when registered, such as conditions placed on registration, suspension or cancellation of registration.
• The previously registered nurse or midwife must also undertake the additional training on vaccination administration as directed by NSW Health.

See the Statewide Protocol for the Supply or Administration of COVID-19 Vaccine PD2021_034 and Standard operating procedure for administration of COVID-19 vaccines in NSW vaccination clinics PD2021_013 for more information.

Does a registered nurse, enrolled nurse, midwife, student or other vaccination worker need to undertake the COVID-19 Vaccination Training Program to administer the vaccine under the order from an authorised person?

Yes, all registered nurses, enrolled nurses, midwives and students and other categories of Vaccination Worker must successfully complete the additional COVID-19 Vaccination Training Program developed by the Commonwealth Department of Health in partnership with ACN and other training as directed by NSW Health if working in a vaccination clinic.

What is an Authorised Nurse (and Midwife) Immuniser?

An Authorised Nurse Immuniser is a registered nurse or midwife who has been appropriately trained and accredited to deliver immunisation services and administer vaccines as an Authorised Nurse Immuniser.

See the NSW Health Authorised Nurse Immuniser Policy Directive PD2020_050

Who provides nurses and midwives with the authority to immunise?

The Chief Health Officer of NSW is the duly appointed delegate of the Secretary, NSW Health, provides the authorisation under the Poisons and Therapeutic Goods Regulation 2008 (NSW).

Updates to the list of authorised nurses and midwives (including COVID-19 vaccine) is found on the NSW Health website under Immunisation providers.

How does a nurse or midwife become an Authorised Nurse Immuniser?

• A registered nurse or midwife must have successfully completed the NSW Department of Health Immunisation Accreditation Program for Registered Nurses prior to 2001, or
• An interstate immunisation education program, as approved by the Australian College of Nursing (ACN) prior to December 2020, or
• An immunisation course for registered nurses and midwives that conforms to the National Immunisation Education Framework for Health Professionals, following accreditation by Health Education Services Australia (HESA) and published on the list of approved courses on the HESA website, or
• An interstate immunisation education program that conforms to the National Immunisation Education Framework for Health Professionals, as approved by an education provider following the accreditation of their course by HESA and listing of their course on the HESA website

Who is HESA?

HESA is Health Education Services Australia.

The Australian Nursing and Midwifery Accreditation Council (ANMAC) was requested by the Commonwealth Department of Health to establish a single point of entry for immunisation education provider courses seeking to be accredited against the National Immunisation Education Framework for Health Professionals (The Framework).

The ANMAC Board has established a separate entity, Health Education Services Australia (HESA), to separate ANMAC’s role in providing the accreditation functions under the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law (2009) from services provided to other entities.

A list of accredited programs can be found here.

There are currently 3 nationally accredited providers: ACN, Benchmarque and the University of Melbourne. The list is subject to change as new providers are accredited.

The list does not include interstate or territory immunisation programs approved by ACN prior to December 2020.

Who provides nurses, midwives and students with the authority to immunise?

The Chief Health Officer of NSW is the duly appointed delegate of the Secretary, NSW Health, who provides the authorisation under the Poisons and Therapeutic Goods Regulation 2008 (NSW). The Chief Health Officer has amended the Authorisation to Supply Poisons and Restricted Substances as required. The amendments are reflected in PD2021_034 and PD2020_050.

What vaccines can an Authorised Nurse (or Midwife) Immuniser administer?

An Authorised Nurse Immuniser can only administer vaccines listed on the NSW Authority for Registered Nurses and Midwives – see the NSW Health Immunisation providers webpage.

Can an Authorised Nurse (and Midwife) Immuniser also administer SARS-COV-2 (COVID-19) vaccine?

Yes, but only if the Authorised Nurse (or Midwife) has successfully completed the following additional training:

• Core COVID-19 training modules from the COVID-19 Vaccination Training Program developed by the Commonwealth Department of Health in partnership with ACN; and
• Additional COVID-19 training modules from the COVID-19 Vaccination Training Program and is listed below:

1. For the purposes of supply and administration of Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine, the training module for this vaccine
2. For the purposes of supply and administration of Oxford University/AstraZeneca vaccine, the training module for this vaccine
3. Other COVID-19 vaccines as approved by the TGA.

Poisons and therapeutic Goods Regulation 2008, as updated by the NSW Chief Health Officer on 19 Feb 2021.

Does a medical practitioner need to be on site at a NSW Health vaccination Clinic (Hub)

All hubs/clinics must have a medical practitioner designated to provide oversight and clinical advice to staff and patients.

The medical practitioner does not need to be on site. If the medical practitioner is not on site, an authorised nurse (or midwife) immuniser must be present if a medical practitioner is only available via phone or video consultation.

NSW Health has published a Statewide Protocol for the Supply or Administration of COVID-19 vaccines PD2021_034, which sets out the procedure for preparation of vaccines for administration and the clinical roles of all staff involved.

The Standard operating procedure for administration of COVID-19 vaccines in NSW vaccination clinics PD2021_013 outlines the standard procedures for vaccination administration in vaccination hubs and clinics.