1. What is the National Immunisation Information (NIIS) System?
What has traditionally been known as the COVAX system used for recording COVID-19, Influenza and pneumococcal vaccine-related data, will now be the long-term HSE national system for recording all publicly offered immunisations. It has been renamed as the National Immunisation Information System (NIIS) with an initial focus on recording Primary Childhood Immunisations (PCI) Schedule data.
(a) When is it anticipated for PCI vaccines in General Practice to Go-Live in NIIS?
NIIS is planned to Go-Live for PCI in General Practice from 27th November 2025.
(b) What are the anticipated key changes from 27th November 2025?
From 27th November 2025, PCI records that are entered into your accredited GP Practice Management System (PMS) will automatically transfer to NIIS, reducing the need for paper-based vaccination returns.
- All children born before 1st October 2025:
GPs must record the vaccine on their GP PMS or GPVax as, until such time that all children have their PCI schedule closed out, in line with existing processes, these records will be ingested into the respective legacy Immunisation system.
- All children born from 1st October 2025: Vaccines recorded by GPs will be sent electronically from their Practice Management System (GP PMS) or GP Vax to NIIS and Primary Care Reimbursement Service (PCRS) system, these records will be recorded onto NIIS.
2. How will GP payments be managed?
This will depend on the date of birth of the child.
(a) For children born before 1st October 2025:
Vaccines administered up to end of November 2025 – continue to enter records on your GP PMS/GPVax and submit to Local Health / Immunisation Offices as per current processes for payment.
Vaccines administered from 1st December 2025 onwards – once the vaccine record is entered into your accredited GP PMS/GPVax*, this will be automatically transmitted to NIIS. There will no longer be a requirement for GPs to submit monthly claims to the Local Health/Immunisation Office. Local Health/Immunisation Offices will use the information from NIIS to continue local processing of payments for these children (born before 1st October 2025).
(b) For children born on or after 1st October 2025:
From 27th November 2025, records for vaccines administered to children born on or after 1st October 2025 and entered into your accredited GP PMS/GPVax will be automatically uploaded into both NIIS and PCRS, and payments will be processed and paid through PCRS.
3. What is the Guidance for Vaccinations Administered to Children born before 1st October 2025?
(a) In advance of the implementation of the NIIS, GPs are asked to ensure that all retrospective vaccination records relating to children born prior to 1st October 2025 are entered into your GP PMS as soon as possible and all claims are submitted to Local Health / Immunisation Offices by 30th November 2025, to ensure payments are correctly processed.
(b) Vaccines administered up to end of November 2025 – continue to enter records on your PMS and submit to Local Health / Immunisation Offices as per current processes for payment.
(c) Vaccines administered from 1st December 2025 onwards – once the vaccine record is entered into your accredited GP PMS/GPVax, this will be automatically ingested into NIIS. There will no longer be a requirement for GPs to submit monthly claims to the Local Health/Immunisation Office.
Local Health/Immunisation Offices will use the information from NIIS to continue local processing of payments for these children.
Note: these vaccination records will also be transmitted to PCRS through the integrated ICT system. As payments will continue to be processed through Local Health/Immunisation Offices, the following rejection message will be received from PCRS for this cohort of children.
PCI Payments for children with DOB prior to 1st of Oct 2025 will be processed by LIOs using legacy systems. Contact your LIO for clarification.
- Will the GP Claim Form prior to stage 1 continue to be issued from LIO Team?
Yes. This process will continue as the method for informing GPs of children due vaccines.
- Will the Late to Vaccination formerly the defaulters/overdue vaccination reports continue to be issued to GPs?
Yes. For children born before 1st October 2025, the Late to Vaccination reports will be run from their respective legacy immunisation system.
- How will GP Payments be managed for children born before 1st October 2025?
Payments will continue to be processed through Local Health/Immunisation Offices, based on the records transmitted to NIIS from the GP PMS or GPVax.
4. What is the Guidance for Vaccinations Administered to Children born on or after 1st October 2025?
From 27th November 2025, records for vaccines administered to children born on or after 1st October 2025 and entered into your accredited GP PMS/GPVax will be automatically ingested into both NIIS and PCRS, and payments will be processed and paid through PCRS.
If a child born on or after 1st October 2025 is vaccinated prior to the 27th November 2025:
- Hold the record until 27th November 2025
- Any such records submitted prior to Go Live on 27th Nov will not be transmitted to NIIS or PCRS and payment will not be processed
- Manual forms are available for GPs to retain the record until 27th November. Refer to the Primary Childhood Immunisation Temporary Record Form.
- Submit electronic record on or after 27th November on GP PMS/ GP Vax
- Will the GP Claim Form prior to stage 1 be issued from LIO Team?
No, instead it is anticipated that the LIOs will issue a report from NIIS to each GP prior to Stage 1 (issued at circa. week 6).
- Will the Late to Vaccination/overdue reports continue to be issued to GPs?
Yes. For children born from 1st October 2025, the Late to Vaccination reports will be run from NIIS and issued by Local Health/Immunisation Office.
- How will GP Payments be managed for children born after (and including) 1st October 2025?
Payments will be directly managed by PCRS.
5. What is the Guidance for GPs in cases where their GP Practice Management Systems or GPVax has not updated, after 27th November 2025?
Please contact your GP PMS, GPVax Technical Support team see Technical support - GP Vendors/GPVax Contact Details
6. What is the Guidance for GPs not currently using a GP Practice Management Systems or GPVax?
It is already a requirement that GPs use one of the accredited GP Practice Management Systems or GPVax to record COVID-19, Influenza and Pneumococcal vaccination records. Those GPs who are providing vaccinations within the Primary Childhood Immunisation programme and do not currently operate the required systems should contact the HSE at a2ihids.support@hse.ie immediately to be set up on GPVax.
7. I have no computerised system and all my records are paper based – what should I do?
Any GP who is not in a position to use a computerised system for PCI should contact their Local Health/Immunisation Office immediately so that alternative arrangements can be put in place.
8. What is the process for children who are due vaccination but do not yet have a PPSN?
As per HPSC/NIO communication 05.11.2025 it is vitally important that all babies are given their first vaccines at two months of age, regardless of whether they have yet received a PPSN. While the child’s PPS number will be required to record and submit a vaccination for reimbursement, GPs should not delay vaccination in cases where vaccination is due but the PPSN is not yet available. A Temporary Form to Record PCI is available which GPs can use to retain the record until such times as the parent is able to provide the PPSN, at which point the record can be entered into the GP PMS or GPVax.
Note: Any entries after the PPSN is available should be submitted in the order of when the vaccinations took place. Vaccinations administered will be paid by PCRS once PPSN confirmed.
9. I have a query about a payment – who do I contact?
This will depend on the date of birth of the child.
- For children born before 1st October 2025:
For vaccines administered and recorded on your GP PMS/GPVax up to end of November 2025 – contact your Local Health / Immunisation Offices as per current processes.
Vaccines administered from 1st December 2025 onwards – once the vaccine record is entered into your accredited GP PMS/GPVax*, this will be automatically transmitted to NIIS. Local Health/Immunisation Offices will use the information from NIIS to continue local processing of payments for these children (born before 1st October 2025), continue as per existing processes through the Local Office/Immunisation Office local offices for 2026 and 2027.
- For children born on or after 1st October 2025:
From 27th November 2025, records for vaccines administered to children born on or after 1st October 2025 and entered into your accredited GP PMS/GPVax will be automatically transmitted to PCRS, and payments will be processed and paid through PCRS. Contact PCRS on 01 864 7100 or email pcrs.doctorsqueries@hse.ie
10. Recording of Repeat vaccinations
A consultant has requested that a child have their PCI vaccination schedule repeated due to severe immunocompromise – what should I do?
There is no process in place yet to record repeat vaccinations in NIIS, or for these to be reimbursed through PCRS. This will be addressed in a future phase.
11. Will the Local Health / Immunisation Office still send out pre-printed stationary?
No, pre-printed stationary will no longer be provided, as there is no requirement to send paper claim forms to the Local Health/Immunisation Office.
12. How will bonus payments be processed?
- For children born before 1st October 2025: Bonus payment calculation and payment will continue as per existing processes through the Local Health/Immunisation Office for 2026 and 2027.
- For children born on or after 1st October 2025: Bonus payments will transition to PCRS in future years in relation to children born from 1st October 2025 onwards.
13. Who do I contact for any clinical queries?
If you have any clinical immunisation query please email immunisation@hse.ie
14. Who do I contact for technical queries?
Contact your GP PMS, GPVax Technical Support team see Technical support - GP Vendors / GPVax Contact Details
15. Who do I contact for operational queries in relation to Primary Childhood Immunisation programme?
Continue to contact your Local Health/Immunisation Offices with general/operational queries in relation to Primary Childhood Immunisation programme
16. What is the process for validation of records by PCRS?
Onsubmission of electronic PCI claims from GP PMS/GPVax, basic validation and checks will be carried by the PCRS payments system. Additional validations and checks will be implemented by PCRS in due course, after the Go Live date. If it transpires that the additional validation deems a paid claim to become ineligible for reimbursement, then PCRS will recoup the payment for this through an adjustment to the balance of payments due, in the next monthly payment run.
17. What is the guidance on manual process for the initial phase of the NIIS roll-out?
There are limited circumstances for which manual processes will continue, similar to before the introduction of NIIS. These are outlined below:
- Refusals
- Children who change GP / move away / leave the country
- Children who move into the country
- Deaths
- Vaccines contraindicated
In each of these cases, the GP should notify the Local Health/Immunisation Office, who will update the information on the relevant systems to ensure that the correct payment is issued. For refusals, signed Vaccine Refusal forms are still required as per current processes.
18. Can I correct an error in a vaccination record?
While it is essential that all vaccines given are recorded accurately and promptly, GP Practice Management Systems and HSE GPVax have been configured to enable some vaccination corrections functionality. If you have made a mistake recording a vaccination dose, you can go into an existing vaccination record, update it and re-submit it.
Correction of a record must be completed before the next stage/dose of that vaccine is recorded.
If you require further information please contact your GP PMS, GPVax Technical Support team.
19. With the change to the payments of immunisations, will bonus payments continued to be applied going forward?
Yes, once off bonus payments will continue to be payable to a general practitioner in respect of a registered child who has reached their second birthday, where the GP concerned administered all of the stages 1, 2, 3 and 4 vaccines under the PCI to that child and to at least 95 per cent of the registered children with that general practitioner who reached their second birthday in that year.
20. Are children required to have the same GP registered for Primary Child Immunisation and General Medical Services (GMS) or Doctor Visit Card (DVC)?
The nominated GP for PCI may not be the same GP where child is registered for GMS/DVC.
However, in order to qualify for the bonus, all stages of the PCI immunisations must be recorded by the same registered GP, within the practice and under the same GMS number
