What's new

New language, same evidence-based content

We’ve rewritten the entire Handbook in plainer language and in a way that makes it easier to read onscreen. This helps you scan the content and understand it faster.

We have maintained the essential components that make the Handbook an authoritative resource for health professionals:

• The content remains accurate and up to date.
• The recommendations continue to be based on the best scientific evidence from published and unpublished literature.
• The content has been through a rigorous process of expert review.

Familiar structure

The basic Handbook structure is the same:

• About the Handbook – includes background, how the Handbook is developed, how to use it, and what’s changed (was Part 1).
• Vaccination procedures – what to do before and after vaccination, and how to administer vaccines (was Part 2).
• Vaccination for special risk groups – recommendations for groups with special vaccination requirements (was Part 3).
• Vaccine-preventable diseases – the 24 diseases that can be prevented with vaccines in Australia (was Part 4).

Catch-up vaccination has been moved to its own section so you can reach it more easily from any page.

Fundamentals of immunisation has been moved to its own section and now includes passive immunisation (was Part 5).

In disease chapters, the order of headings has changed so the information you use more often is at the top.

More ways to get to the information you need

Searching is faster, smarter and more comprehensive in the new Handbook.

We’ve developed new entry points for Recommendations and Vaccines so you can quickly get to critical details. Filter by disease, audience and more to find a specific piece of information, fast.

Find lists of tables and figures in Resources, filter results or search within the page.

New resources for busy health professionals

Download and print information sheets on a range of topics as a quick reference guide. For when you know the details but just need a quick reminder.

Something wrong?

Use the feedback link found at the bottom of every page to tell us if something goes wrong or should change. This will help us improve the Handbook website.