ATAGI recommendations on the use of the Novavax vaccine for adolescents aged 12-17 years

ATAGI have now recommended that adolescents aged 12-17 years can receive the Novavax COVID-19 vaccine for their primary course of COVID-19 vaccination. This recommendation provides another vaccine brand option, in addition to Pfizer and Moderna, for individuals in this age group. 

A Novavax primary schedule consists of 2 doses, administered 8 weeks apart. Those with severe immunocompromise should receive 3 doses. 

Whilst Novavax is not currently registered for use as a booster dose in adolescents aged 12-17 years, ATAGI advises that it may be used for this purpose, when Pfizer is not suitable for that person.

To read the recommendations in full please follow the link below.  
ATAGI recommendations on the use of the Novavax vaccine for adolescents aged 12-17 years.


Vaccines Work GAVI: Five charts on monkeypox, past and present

Despite the first cases of monkeypox infection in humans being reported in the 1970’s, previous outbreaks of disease have been relatively small compared with the international outbreak we are currently experiencing. Human to human transmission has been historically uncommon with cases limited to smaller geographical regions. Current rates of infection, with extensive human to human transmission and wide global spread has led this outbreak to be a very unique scenario.

The following article uses the latest data to explore the current rates of infection across different demographics and regions, the impact of pre-existing medical conditions, as well as vaccine access and severity of disease.

To read the article in full, click on the link below.
Vaccines Work GAVI: Five charts on monkeypox, past and present 

To view our reference page on monkeypox, click on the link below. 
MVEC: Monkeypox


Recording of the VACSIG webinar now available

A webinar recording is now available from the recent Vaccination Special Interest Group (VACSIG) event on Wednesday 17 August.  The topic for the webinar was Monkeypox & smallpox vaccines: an Australian perspective, and featured a panel of expert speakers including MVEC’s A/Prof Nigel Crawford. 
 
To view the recording, please click on the link below. 
VACSIG Webinar 17 August


Registrations now open for MVEC’s Immunisation Skills Workshop – Friday 25 November 2022

MVEC are pleased to announce that registrations for our Immunisation Skills Workshop taking place on Friday 25th November are now open.  

The full day interactive, face to face workshop is MVEC’s newest education opportunity designed to provide education and upskilling in the principles and processes of managing: 

  • effective vaccine communication 
  • error prevention and management 
  • anaphylaxis and acute stress responses. 

Participants will hear from immunisation experts and have the opportunity to engage in simulated scenarios. 

The workshop will account for 12 nursing CPD hours and up to 24 points of CPD for pharmacist immunisers (including preparation and reading time). 

Venue: The HELP Precinct, The Royal Children’s Hospital, 50 Flemington Road, Parkville
Time: 8:30am – 4:30pm
Cost: $290.00 (including catering) 

Register for the Immunisation Skills Workshop now via the link below!
MVEC Immunisation Skills Workshop 


Registrations now open for the August CVU mini event

MVEC’s next Clinical Vaccinology Update (CVU) mini event on COVID-19: infection and vaccines in children aged 6 months and over will take place virtually on Tuesday 30th August. This CVU mini will provide an update on: 

  • COVID-19 vaccine recommendations for Australian children over 6 months 
  • The safety profile of COVID-19 vaccines in children
  • COVID-19 vaccine rollout logistics

The event program and link to register will be available shortly via our Events page or via the link below. 

CVU mini: August 2022 

 


Updated MVEC immunisation reference page: COVID-19 vaccination in children and adolescent page

MVEC’s COVID-19 vaccination in children and the adolescent reference page has been updated to include the current recommendations for children under 5 years of age. This resource details:  

  • Recommended COVID-19 vaccine schedule information for children and adolescents aged ≥ 6 months 
  • Information on the efficacy and side effects of COVID-19 vaccination in the paediatric population 
  • Links to current ATAGI COVID-19 vaccine recommendations in the various paediatric and adolescent age groups  

To view the page in full, follow the link below: 

MVEC: COVID-19 vaccination in children and adolescents 


New immunisation reference page – Monkeypox

Monkeypox is a viral zoonosis (an infection spread from animals to humans). It is caused by a virus that belongs to the Orthopoxvirus genus (which also causes the variola virus responsible for smallpox disease and the vaccinia virus, which is used in smallpox vaccines). Since the eradication of smallpox in 1980, monkeypox has become the most important orthopoxvirus affecting humans, however, causes less severe disease than smallpox.  

The incubation period of monkeypox is usually 7-14 days, with initial symptoms of monkeypox including fever, headache, backache and muscle aches, fatigue and lymphadenopathy. Historically, smallpox vaccines have been used in the prevention of smallpox infection, however, they are also likely to be effective against monkeypox.  

There are two types of smallpox vaccines registered for use in Australia for the prevention of monkeypox, ACAM2000™ and JYNNEOS®.  

Our new reference page outlines symptoms, transmission routes, epidemiology, current vaccine recommendations and links to the latest resources. 

For further information, click on the link below:
MVEC: Monkeypox


ATAGI recommendations on COVID-19 vaccine use in children under 5 years

ATAGI have now recommended COVID-19 vaccination for some children aged 6 months – 5 years. Eligible groups include those with severe immunocompromise, a disability with severe or complex health needs, or those with multiple/complex health conditions that increase the risk of severe COVID-19 disease.  

A paediatric formula of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine has been approved by the TGA in this age group for children in the groups mentioned above. A primary two-dose schedule, 8 weeks apart is recommended, with the dose being 25mcg. Children in this age group with severe immunocompromise are recommended to complete a 3-dose primary schedule.  

ATAGI does not currently recommend COVID vaccination for children aged 6 months - 5 years who are not in the categories previously mentioned, based on a range of factors.  

Recommendations may change as alternative brands or variant COVID-19 vaccines become available in this age group, or if there are epidemiological changes such as new variants of concern that emerge.  

To read the recommendations in full please follow the link below.  

ATAGI recommendations on COVID-19 vaccine use in children aged 6 months to <5 years


Safety of COVID-19 vaccines in >200,000 Aussie kids: reassuring data from AusVaxSafety

New AusVaxSafety research which analysed 392,268 survey responses via AusVaxSafety’s national active safety surveillance system between July 2021 and May 2022, has found that Australian children aged 5-15 years report fewer side effects in the days following mRNA COVID-19 vaccination than those reported in clinical trials and published safety data.

Importantly, fever was reported low in the youngest age group, comparable to that seen following annual influenza vaccination. Additionally, there were also no self-reported cases of myocarditis and pericarditis identified in the study.

AusVaxSafety will commence surveillance in children aged 6 months to 5 years once COVID-19 vaccines become available in this age group.

To access the research in full, click on the link below. 

Safety of COVID-19 vaccines in >200,000 Aussie kids: reassuring data from
AusVaxSafety 
 


Flinders University Alumni publication featuring A/Prof Nigel Crawford: Providing the vital boost for us to fight COVID-19

MVEC’s Associate Professor Nigel Crawford was featured in the Flinders University College of Medicine and Public Health Alumni magazine regarding his significant contribution to Australia’s COVID-19 vaccine rollout. As the current chair of the Australian Technical Advisory Group for Immunisation (ATAGI), Nigel discusses his role in steering Australia’s uptake of COVID-19 vaccines, including effective communication and the ability to remain flexible when responding to and adapting vaccine advice for the general public. 

To read the full article, follow the link below.

Flinders University Alumni publication featuring A/Prof Nigel Crawford: Providing the vital boost for us to fight COVID-19