General support

AEFIs can be reported via the SAEFVIC website 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. To report an AEFI for yourself or a patient please visit SAEFVIC for reporting guidelines and instructions.

Alternatively, you can call SAEFVIC on 1300 882 924 (Option 1). Hours of operation are Monday - Friday 9.00am - 4.30pm.

For information on which symptoms following immunisation should be reported refer to SAEFVIC.

The SAEFVIC team will assess reports and provide clinical follow up when considered appropriate. Please note that not all reports to SAEFVIC will receive follow up.

At times SAEFVIC can experience increased demand on their services and this can result in delays in responses.

SAEFVIC is unable to contact the reporter/vaccine recipient if consent to contact has not been provided in the report.

SAEFVIC is a reporting service and not an emergency contact. Hours of operation are Monday – Friday, 9am – 4.30pm.

Anyone who experiences symptoms of concern or a severe adverse event following immunisation (AEFI) should first seek medical attention from a health professional.

AEFIs can be reported by the parents/guardians or vaccinated individuals, immunisation provider or any health professional who reviews the individual following their AEFI. For more information on reporting an AEFI, refer to SAEFVIC.

Notification of all adverse events following immunisation (AEFI) should be made through the usual reporting mechanisms in your state or territory. In Victoria, AEFI should be reported to SAEFVIC.

SAEFVIC does not provide medical exemptions for influenza vaccines. Vaccine exemptions can only be provided by an approved list of health care professionals to individuals who meet a limited set of criteria

You can find more information on exemptions here.

Vaccine error support

A vaccine error occurs when a vaccine is stored, prepared or administered incorrectly.

All vaccine errors should be reported online via SAEFVIC and clinical advice sought as soon as possible.

For clinical guidance on the management of COVID-19 vaccine administration errors, please refer to ATAGI clinical guidance on COVID-19 vaccine administration errors.

When a vaccine administration error occurs, affected individuals must be informed, following the open disclosure process.

 

Vaccines affected by a cold chain breach must not be used or discarded but should be isolated until further advice can be sought. Cold chain breaches must be reported to the appropriate authorities as soon as possible.

Non COVID-19 vaccine cold chain breaches in Victoria must be reported to the Victorian Department of Health

COVID-19 vaccine cold chain breaches must be reported to the Commonwealth Vaccine Operations Centre (VOC) via phone: 1800 318 208 or email: COVID19VaccineOperationsCentre@health.gov.au.

If a vaccine that has been exposed to a cold chain breach is inadvertently administered to an individual, this is considered an error and must be reported to SAEFVIC (if the breach occurred in Victoria)

COVID-19 vaccines administered past the expiration or use-by date must be reported to the Commonwealth Vaccine Operations Centre (VOC) as soon as possible for advice via phone: 1800 318 208 or email: COVID19VaccineOperationsCentre@health.gov.au

Administering a COVID-19 vaccine outside of the expiry or thaw “use by date” is considered an error and must be reported to SAEFVIC (if the breach occurred in Victoria).

For further information refer to the ATAGI clinical guidance on COVID-19 vaccine administration errors.

Website support

If you have forgotten your SAEFVIC password click here to reset it. You will receive a confirmation email to reset your password.

Still need help? Submit a request here and a member of the SAEFVIC team will be in touch.