Immunisation program

New arrival refugees and humanitarian entrants to Australia may not be fully immunised in line with the Australian National Immunisation Program schedule.

This places the refugee and the community at risk of some vaccine preventable diseases. The Newly Arrived Refugee Immunisation (NARI) program offers specific vaccines to newly arrived refugees in South Australia. Refugees and asylum seekers can also access COVID-19 vaccinations at the Refugee Health Service without needing a Medicare card.

[content taken from here: New Arrival Refugee Immunisation (NARI) Program | SA Health]

Under the National Immunisation Program, all refugees and humanitarian entrants are able to receive free catch-up vaccinations. NARI providers will accept referrals from your doctor and other health professionals. The immunisation services include:

• appointments for individuals and family groups
• providing access to interpreting services for new arrivals attending the clinics
• assessing the current immunisation history of all new arrivals and offering catch-up vaccines as required
• providing immunisation records of all immunisations administered and documentation of when the next immunisations are due.

For a list of vaccines included under the NARI program refer to the catch-up immunisation table on the Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care website.

You can contact the RHS clinic to speak to a nurse and make an appointment. 

We have also identified immunisation providers in the main local government areas where refugees settle. The following local council and health services offer free vaccines through the NARI program.