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Frequently asked questions

Find the answers to commonly asked questions about My Health Record and more.

Linking My Health Record in myGov

I can't link My Health Record from myGov. What should I do?

We use details from Medicare to verify your identity when you link My Health Record.

If you have a Medicare online account already linked in myGov, it’s easier to then link to My Health Record.

I have a Medicare online account linked in myGov

If you have a Medicare online account and it is already linked in myGov, you don’t need to answer any further identity questions when you link to My Health Record.

Tick 'Use my Medicare identity' when linking your record.

Medicare online identity new

I don’t have a Medicare online account or don’t want to link it

If you don’t have a Medicare online account or don’t want to link it in myGov, we will ask about your Medicare details when you link your record. This helps us verify your identity.

 We may ask questions about:

  • your Medicare card
  • bank account details registered with Medicare
  • Medicare claiming history (details of your last visit to your doctor, such as date of visit, location of medical practice, name of your doctor)

Your answers must match the details stored by Medicare.

If you’re not sure of these details, you can phone Medicare on 132 011 (7 days a week, 24 hours a day) before you link to My Health Record 

Medicare can also help you register for a Medicare online account and give you a linking code to link your myGov account to Medicare.

I want to set up a Medicare online account or link it in myGov

If you set up a Medicare online account and link it in myGov first, it will be easier to then link to My Health Record.

How do I link My Health Record if I am not eligible for Medicare?

If you applied for a My Health Record and have received your identity verification code, you need to link your record to your myGov account to access your record online.

See step 3 on this page to find out how to link your record in myGov​​​​​​

How do I set up and access My Health Record?

You need to link My Health Record in myGov and then verify your identity. Find out more.

Tip: My Health Record uses details from Medicare to verify your identify. If you haven’t yet linked Medicare, you can do that first. It will then be easier to link and access My Health Record.

Getting proof of my COVID-19 vaccinations

What proof of vaccination documents can I get from My Health Record? 

There are two documents available from My Health Record that provide proof of vaccination:

  • A complete immunisation history statement shows all the immunisations you’ve had that are on the Australian Immunisation Register (AIR), including COVID-19 vaccinations.
  • A COVID-19 and influenza immunisation history statement shows only your COVID-19 and flu vaccinations (available even in you haven't had any of these vaccinations).

Your vaccination provider must report your vaccination information to the Australian Immunisation Register before it will show on your immunisation history statements.

How do I get proof of vaccination for someone else?

You can get proof of vaccination for someone else through My Health Record if you are their authorised representative or nominated representative.

What proof of vaccination do I need to travel overseas?

You may need an International COVID-19 Vaccination Certificate to travel overseas.

You can get your international certificate online when you’re getting ready to travel if both of these apply:

  • you have a current Australian passport or foreign passport with an Australian visa
  • you’ve had at least one dose of an approved COVID-19 vaccine.

This international certificate is not available from My Health Record.  Find out how to get your international certificate.

How do I get my COVID-19 and flu statement? 

You can get your COVID-19 and flu immunisation history statement online at any time. It shows your COVID-19 and influenza vaccinations that are recorded on the Australian Immunisation Register (AIR).

I have a My Health Record

If you already have a My Health Record, you can get your COVID-19 and flu immunisation history statement from your record.

Find out how to get proof of vaccination from My Health Record.

I have Medicare online or the Medicare Express Plus app

If you have a Medicare card, or get a DVA pension or benefit, you can get your COVID-19 and flu statement ​​​​through Medicare online (if you have an account) or the Express Plus Medicare mobile app (to use this app, you need to first link Medicare in your myGov account).

Find out more about getting proof of vaccination on Services Australia website.

I’m not eligible for Medicare

If you don’t have a Medicare card, and don’t receive a DVA pension or benefit, you’ll need to get an Individual Healthcare Identifier (IHI) before you can get proof of vaccination online. Find out how to apply for an IHI online.

Once you have your IHI, you can get your COVID-19 and flu immunisation history statement through the Individual Healthcare Identifier service in myGov.

Find out more about how to get your proof of vaccination.

I can’t get proof of my COVID-19 vaccination online

If you can’t get proof of your COVID-19 vaccinations online, you can call the Australian Immunisation Register on 1800 653 809 (Monday to Friday 8 am to 5 pm) and ask them to send your immunisation history statements. It can take up to 14 days to arrive in the post.

I’ve had a COVID-19 vaccination. Why isn't it on my proof of vaccination documents?

It can take a few days for new vaccinations to show on your proof of vaccination documents. ​If you've recently had a COVID-19 vaccination and it's not showing on your statements, please check again in a few days. 

If it's still not showing after a few days and your vaccination provider has sent the details to the Australian Immunisation Register (AIR), call the Australian Immunisation Register general enquiries line on 1800 653 809 (Monday to Friday 8 am to 5 pm).

How do I know when my booster is due?

If you are eligible for a COVID-19 booster you should check with your healthcare provider to find out when its due. 

Find out about booster doses for COVID-19 vaccines, who they are recommended for, when you need one and how to get it. 

Will my booster dose show in My Health Record? 

If you’ve had a booster dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, your vaccination provider must report the details to the Australian Immunisation Register before it will show in My Health Record. It will also show on your complete immunisation history statement and your COVID-19 and flu immunisation history statement (both available from My Health Record).

Find out about booster doses for COVID-19 vaccines, who they are recommended for, when you need one and how to get it. 

How do I add my COVID-19 digital certificate to my digital wallet?

You can add your COVID-19 digital certificate to your digital wallet from:  

  • My Health Record through myGov
  • Express Plus Medicare mobile app (to use this app, you need to first link Medicare in your myGov account)
  • Medicare online account through myGov  
  • Individual Healthcare Identifiers service (IHI service) through myGov.

Find out how to add your COVID-19 digital certificate to a digital wallet.

I've had a COVID-19 vaccination but can’t get my COVID-19 digital certificate. What can I do?

You can get your digital certificate after you’ve had at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine approved for use in Australia, and it has been recorded on the Australian Immunisation Register (AIR).

Your vaccination provider needs to add details of your vaccination to the Australian Immunisation Register before you can see your certificate.

Your digital certificate is issued by the Australian Immunisation Register and made available through various online channels, including your My Health Record.

If you can’t access your COVID-19 digital certificate and your healthcare provider has sent the details to AIR, contact the Australian Immunisation Register general enquiries line on 1800 653 809.

For more information, see how to get proof of your COVID-19 vaccinations

How do I get proof of all my vaccinations?

You can get a complete immunisation history statement which shows all the vaccinations you’ve had that are recorded on the Australian Immunisation Register (AIR), including COVID-19 vaccinations.

Your vaccination provider needs to report your vaccination information to the AIR before it will appear on your statement.

I have a My Health Record

If you have a My Health Record, you can get your complete immunisation history statement by logging into your record. See Getting proof of your vaccinations from My Health Record for more information.

I don’t have a My Health Record

See how to get proof of your covid-19 vaccinations for more information on how to get your complete immunisation history statement if you don’t have a My Health Record.

I can’t get proof of my vaccinations online

If you can’t get proof of your vaccinations online, you can call the Australian Immunisation Register on 1800 653 809 (Monday to Friday 8 am to 5 pm) and ask them to send your complete immunisation history statement. It can take up to 14 days to arrive in the post.

How do I get a paper copy of my proof of vaccinations? I don't have a smart phone or computer. 

You can call the Australian Immunisation Register on 1800 653 809 (Monday to Friday 8 am to 5 pm) and ask them to send you a paper copy of your complete immunisation history statement or your COVID-19 and flu immunisation history statement. It can take up to 14 days to arrive in the post.

What do I do if a COVID-19 vaccination or other immunisation information is incomplete or missing from My Health Record?

If you’ve had a vaccination and it’s not appearing in your My Health Record, first check your Medicare Information Settings.

From the Profile & Settings tab, select Medicare Information Settings.

Make sure ‘Yes’ is selected for ‘All information about immunisations recorded on the Australian Immunisation Register (AIR)’. See Getting proof of your vaccinations from My Health Record for help on how to do this.

If your AIR setting is set to ‘Yes’, your vaccination provider may not yet have sent the information to AIR. Your vaccination provider needs to report your vaccination information to the AIR before it will appear in your My Health Record. This can take a few days.

If your vaccination provider has sent your vaccination information to AIR and this information is not appearing in your My Health Record, call the Australian Immunisation Register general enquiries line on 1800 653 809 (Monday to Friday 8 am to 5 pm).

If the information is appearing in your Medicare Online account but not in your My Health Record, and your Medicare Information Settings for AIR are set to ‘Yes’, call the My Health Record helpline on 1800 723 471 (24 hours, 7 days a week).

Why aren’t my COVID-19 pathology test reports showing in my record?

Your pathology providers may not have had enough information to upload your test results to My Health Record.

Next time you have a COVID-19 test, ask the provider to record your Medicare, DVA number or IHI number so that the test can be uploaded to your My Health Record. If you don’t have any of these numbers, ask them to record your full address.

I’m not eligible for Medicare. Do I need a My Health Record to get proof of my COVID-19 vaccinations?

If you’re not eligible for Medicare, you can get proof of your vaccinations online in a couple of ways. You need to have an Individual Healthcare Identifier (IHI) to get proof online.

What is an individual healthcare identifier (IHI) number?

An individual healthcare identifier (IHI) is a unique 16-digit number used to identify you for healthcare purposes.

It helps ensure health professionals are confident that the right information is associated with the right individual at the point of care.

Health professionals use your IHI to make sure they are accessing the right record when viewing or uploading information to My Health Record.

An IHI is a different number to a Medicare or DVA number.

You do not need to remember your IHI to receive healthcare.

Find out more about individual healthcare identifiers.

I have an Individual Healthcare Identifier (IHI)

If you have an Individual Healthcare Identifier (IHI), the easiest way to get proof of your vaccinations online is by creating a myGov account and linking to the Individual Healthcare Identifier service.

See how to get proof of your vaccination.

I don’t have an Individual Healthcare Identifier (IHI)

If you don’t have an Individual Healthcare Identifier, you can apply for one online. See How to get an IHI​ for more information.

Once you have your IHI, the easiest way to get proof of your vaccinations online is by creating a myGov account and linking to the Individual Healthcare Identifier service.

See how to get proof of your vaccination.

I want to get proof of my vaccination from My Health Record

If you have an IHI you can register for a My Health Record. This can take up to 10 days after you have submitted the forms (or longer, in times of high demand). You can then get proof of your vaccinations from your record.

See Getting proof of your vaccinations from My Health Record or for more information on how to find this information once you have a record.

I can’t get proof of my COVID-19 vaccination online

If you can’t get proof of your COVID-19 vaccinations online, you can call the Australian Immunisation Register on 1800 653 809 (Monday to Friday 8 am to 5 pm) and ask them to send your immunisation history statements or your digital certificate. It can take up to 14 days to arrive in the post.

I am a DVA cardholder and don’t use Medicare. How can I get proof of my vaccinations from My Health Record?

If you haven’t accessed your My Health Record before, you need an access code to link your myGov account to your My Health Record.

Call the Help line on 1800 723 471 (24 hours, 7 days a week) who will verify your identity and give you an access code (also called an Identity Verification Code).

Once you have linked your myGov account to your My Health Record, you can get your proof of vaccination from your record.

I can’t get proof of vaccinations online because my name or date of birth in my Australian Immunisation Register record are wrong. How can I update this?

The Australian Immunisation Register uses details from your Medicare record. If these details are wrong, you can contact Medicare to get them updated. Find out how to update personal details with Medicare. If you’re not eligible for Medicare and need to update your details, you can call the Australian Immunisation Register on 1800 653809.

I received vaccinations overseas. Will they show up in My Health Record?

The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) and Department of Health decide which COVID-19 vaccine brands given overseas are recognised in Australia and can be recorded on the Australian Immunisation Register (AIR).

Find out which COVID-19 vaccines are approved for use in Australia

Find out how to get a COVID-19 vaccination received overseas added to the AIR.

If you’ve received other immunisations overseas, you may also be able to have these vaccinations added to the AIR.

Find out how to add immunisations you’ve had overseas to the AIR

Why do I get a ‘Blocked plug in’ error when I try to download proof of vaccinations from My Health Record?

Check that you are using a device and browser compatible with the My Health Record system. 
See the list of devices, operating systems and/or web browsers that are supported by My Health Record.

Sharing your COVID-19 proof of vaccination with others

With My Health Record your essential COVID-19 information including proof of vaccination and test results, as well as other important health information is secure and available to you whenever you need it. 

Apart from you, the only people who can directly view or access information in your My Health Record, including your immunisation information, are your healthcare providers, people you invite to help you manage your record, and people who manage your record for you if you're not able to.

You can choose to share information stored in your My Health Record with other people or organisations, but this is entirely up to you.

There are two proof of vaccination documents available in My Health Record:

  • your complete immunisation history statement shows all your vaccinations recorded on the Australian Immunisation Register (including COVID-19 vaccinations)
  • your COVID-19 and flu immunisation history statement shows only your COVID-19 and flu vaccinations. On mobile devices, you can download this statement to your digital wallet to use as you choose.

If you have questions about whether you are required to provide proof of vaccination, please contact your state or territory health department.

If you are concerned that someone has looked at your My Health Record when they shouldn't have, call us on 1800 723 471 and we will investigate.

Set up and access My Health Record

I want to manage a My Health Record for someone else. How do I do this?

An authorised representative can be appointed to manage the My Health Record of someone who is not able to make decisions for themselves. This could be a child under 14 years or someone 14 years and over, who lacks capacity to make their own decisions. 

You will need to provide supporting evidence of your authority to act on behalf of your dependant.

More information about authorised representatives and applying to become an authorised representative

If the person is over 14 and has capacity to make their own decisions, but needs help to manage their My Health Record, they can choose to appoint someone to be a nominated representative for their record. A nominated representative might be a family member, close friend, or carer.

More information about nominated representatives

I’ve applied for a My Health Record and want to find out the progress of my application.

We are currently receiving a high volume of applications and it is taking longer than usual to process them.

Once a My Health Record application form has been processed you will be sent a letter to the address you have registered with Medicare (or the Healthcare Identifiers Service) advising your registration has been successful. The letter will contain an Identity Verification Code which you need to access your record online.

If you need proof of your vaccinations, there are other ways to get this information, which may be quicker.

More information on how to get proof of your vaccinations.

My name, date of birth, sex or address details are wrong in My Health Record. How do I update them?

These details in My Health Record come from Medicare. If they are wrong, you’ll need to update them in your Medicare record. These updated details will then show in My Health Record.
If you have a Medicare online account, you can update some of your details online. 
Find out how to update personal details with Medicare.

How can I cancel my My Health Record?

If you have a My Health Record and decide you no longer want it, you can cancel it at any time. You can cancel My Health Record online or by completing a cancellation form.

When you cancel your record, the information in your record, including any backups, is permanently deleted from the system.

Before cancelling your record, you should consider the many benefits of having a My Health Record, including giving participating doctors, hospitals and other healthcare providers access to information such as allergies, medicines you’re taking, medical conditions and pathology tests to help them give you the best possible care.

Find out about the benefits of My Health Record and how to cancel your record​​​​​​

Where can I find a list of healthcare providers who are participating in My Health Record?

Can I add an advance care planning to my record?

Advance care planning documents can be added to your record so your wishes can be safely and securely accessed if they were ever needed in a medical emergency.

You, your nominated and authorised representatives can add an advance care planning document to your record.

Learn more

Adding MyMedicare information to My Health Record

MyMedicare is a new voluntary patient registration model. It aims to strengthen the relationship between patients, their general practice, general practitioner and primary care teams.

To update MyMedicare information, or to register for MyMedicare visit: https://www.health.gov.au/our-work/mymedicare.

If you don’t want to include MyMedicare information in your record, you can change the MyMedicare setting in your profile page.

View and edit documents in My Health Record

I’ve logged in to My Health Record for the first time. Where is my historical medical information?

The first time you log into My Health Record there may be little or no information in it. Your medical history won’t be automatically included in your record.

The next time you visit your GP, ask them to prepare a shared health summary and upload it to your record. This summary can capture any of your important health information, such as previous medical conditions or diagnoses, treatments, medications and allergies and adverse reactions, and results from tests or scans that can then be shared with your other treating healthcare providers including specialists and hospital staff.

The shared health summary can be prepared from your GP's computer if they have compatible software and are registered to connect to the My Health Record system.

You can choose to include up to two years of Medicare information such as medicines dispensed and immunisations you’ve received. Find out what types of Medicare information you can include

You can add emergency contacts, a personal health summary, personal health notes, and advance care planning information to your record. More information about adding and managing information in your record

I’ve recently had blood tests or diagnostic images such as X-rays. Will these be uploaded to My Health Record?

When you have a pathology test or diagnostic image taken, you can ask the provider if they are connected to My Health Record. See a list of participating pathology and diagnostic imaging providers.

You can ask the provider to record your Medicare, DVA number or IHI number so that the results can be uploaded to your record. If you don’t have any of these numbers, ask them to record your full address.

Some pathology labs will only upload to My Health Record if the request was sent from your healthcare provider using an e-request that contains your Individual Healthcare Identifier (IHI). Speak to the healthcare provider ordering your tests and ask them if they are using e-requesting. Find out more about e-requesting

Is it mandatory for healthcare providers to participate in the My Health Record system?

It is not mandatory for healthcare providers to participate in the My Health Record system. However, most GPs, hospitals and an increasing number of pathology and diagnostic imaging providers are now connected, and healthcare providers’ use of the system continues to grow.

The Australian Digital Health Agency and our delivery partners are currently providing targeted education sessions and registration assistance to specialists and allied health providers. We continue to work across the health sector to support increased participation.

We encourage you to talk to your GP and other treating healthcare providers and ask them to upload any new and important information to your record.

Why can’t my healthcare provider see my immunisations information in my My Health Record?

If your healthcare provider can’t see your immunisations information in your record, first check your Medicare Information Settings (under Profile & Settings). Make sure ‘Yes’ is selected for ‘All information about immunisations recorded on the Australian Immunisation Register (AIR). See Getting proof of your vaccinations from My Health Record for help on how to do this.

If your AIR setting is set to ‘Yes’, you may have restricted who can access your immunisation information. Only healthcare providers and representatives with ‘Restricted Access’ can view restricted documents.

To check what level of access is set for your immunisations information, from the Privacy & Access tab select Manage My Document Access. Check the access level and change if needed. More information about managing access to your documents.

You can manage your healthcare providers organisations’ access levels by selecting ‘My Healthcare Organisations’ (under Privacy & Access). 

Can I add my own medical reports to My Health Record for my healthcare providers to see?

The My Health Record system does not allow users to upload their own documents to their My Health Record, other than advance care planning documents.

You can add some of your own information to keep track of your personal health details.

Personal health summaries allow you to share important information such as allergies, medications, and adverse reactions with your healthcare providers.

Personal health notes can act as a diary capturing personal observations about your own health, or over the counter medicines you have been taking. Personal health notes are private and cannot be seen by your healthcare providers.

Find out how to add a personal health summary or a personal health note
 

Getting proof of your vaccinations from My Health Record

Getting proof of your vaccinations from My Health Record

Set up your record online

Set up your record online

Access or view My Health Record information

Access or view My Health Record information

Date last updated: 11 July 2024