Upcoming event: Preventing Cervical Cancer Conference 2022
The Preventing Cervical Cancer Conference 2022 (PCC2022) is taking place on 16 – 18 November 2022 at the Sofitel Hotel in Melbourne.
The Conference will be a hybrid face-to-face and virtual event bringing together leading experts across Australia, New Zealand and the Indo-Pacific region to discuss achieving a cervical cancer free future for women and girls across these regions.
PCC2022 is hosted by the Australian Centre for the Prevention of Cervical Cancer and the NHMRC-funded Centre of Research Excellence in Cervical Cancer Control.
For more information and to register for this conference, please click on the link below.
Preventing Cervical Cancer Conference 2022
Updated Immunisation reference page: Mandatory vaccine directions in Victoria
A vaccine mandate means that proof of vaccination, or an authorised medical exemption, is required in certain settings. Mandating is generally considered a late step in optimising vaccine uptake, as it is important to ensure vaccine access is available in an equitable way, before progressing to a mandate. Vaccine mandates may vary depending on the jurisdiction and there may be some variations around Australia.
Our mandatory vaccine directions reference page has recently been updated to include the directions relevant to individuals in Victoria. They include:
- vaccine specific directions
- policy specific directions.
To view the updated page in full, follow the link below:
MVEC: Mandatory vaccine directions in Victoria
Updated Immunisation reference page: Epilepsy and immunisation page
Epilepsy is a disorder of the brain that leads to a person having seizures. Whilst the cause of epilepsy in most people is often unknown, it can include genetic conditions, brain injury or infection, hypoxic insult at birth, brain tumours or neurodegenerative diseases.
Infections, including those that are vaccine preventable (eg. measles, influenza, COVID-19 etc) can trigger seizures in people with epilepsy. Whilst vaccination is generally recommended, in rare instances a vaccine can also cause a seizure. This is why a risk/benefit assessment is important when planning vaccination for people with epilepsy.
Our reference page has recently been updated to detail:
- epilepsy and vaccine-proximate seizures
- management of immunisation in populations with genetic epilepsies prone to vaccine-proximate seizures (Dravet syndrome and GEFS+)
- immunisation recommendations and management.
To view the page in full, follow the link below:
MVEC: Epilepsy and immunisation page
Updated Immunisation reference page: Tuberculosis (BCG)
Tuberculosis (TB) is a bacterial infection that predominantly manifests in the lungs but can spread to other areas of the body including the brain, bones, kidneys and lymph nodes. Whilst Australia has some of the lowest rates of TB in the world, it is estimated that globally one-quarter of the world’s population is infected.
Our reference page has recently been updated to include information on:
- the infection and what to look for
- epidemiology
- vaccination
- tuberculin skin testing.
To view the page in full, follow the link below:
ATAGI recommendations for a booster dose of the paediatric Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine in children aged 5 to 11 years
ATAGI have recommended COVID-19 booster doses for some groups of 5-11 year olds who have previously completed a primary course of COVID-19 vaccination. Eligible groups include those with severe immunocompromise, a disability with significant or complex health needs, or those with complex/multiple health conditions that increase the risk of severe COVID-19 disease.
Boosters in this age group can be administered 3 or more months after completing a primary course of COVID-19 vaccines. An interval of 3 months between COVID-19 infection and COVID vaccines is recommended.
There is currently not enough evidence to support booster doses for other groups of 5-11 year olds, however recommendations may change as more evidence emerges. All children in this age group are recommended to receive a primary course of COVID-19 vaccination.
To read the recommendations in full please follow the link below.
Updated immunisation reference page – Shoulder Injury Related to Vaccine Administration (SIRVA)
Shoulder Injury Related to Vaccine Administration (SIRVA) is a rare but serious complication following suspected inadvertent administration of a vaccine too high in the deltoid or into the shoulder joint. It can cause a local inflammatory response and potential trauma to local structures within the shoulder joint with symptoms lasting for weeks, months or even years.
Our reference page has recently been updated to detail:
- symptoms/features of SIRVA
- impacts and implications
- diagnosis and treatment options
- how to prevent SIRVA
- where to report a case of SIRVA.
To view the page in full, follow the link below:
MVEC: Shoulder Injury Related to Vaccine Administration (SIRVA)
Register now for CVU 2022!
Don’t forget to register for our annual Clinical Vaccinology Update (CVU) taking place on Friday 28th October!
Our face-to-face event will provide professional development delivered via keynote sessions and interactive breakouts, as well as the opportunity to connect and network with peers.
Register now and don’t miss this opportunity to hear from leading experts on the latest developments and trends in immunisation!
To view the program and to register, please click on the link below to our Events page:
MVEC: Clinical Vaccinology Update (CVU) 2022
Updated immunisation reference page: Myocarditis and pericarditis following COVID-19 vaccines
MVEC’s myocarditis and pericarditis reference page has been updated following the recent changes to the guidance on myocarditis and pericarditis associated with COVID-19 vaccination.
This update is reflective of ATAGI’s recent advice which has identified that all of the COVID-19 vaccines available within Australia (including non-mRNA COVID-19 vaccines) carry a small increased risk of myocarditis or pericarditis occurring following vaccination.
To view the page in full, follow the link below:
MVEC: Myocarditis and pericarditis following COVID-19 vaccines
Updated immunisation reference page - Pharmacist immunisers
Our pharmacist immuniser reference page has recently been updated to incorporate the expansion of the pharmacist immuniser program allowing accredited pharmacist providers to administer additional vaccines to more people.
Pharmacist immunisers that have completed a recognised ‘Immuniser program of study’, are now authorised to administer the following vaccines in Victoria:
- human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccines to those aged 12 years and older
- pneumococcal vaccines to people aged 50 years and older
- herpes zoster (shingles) vaccine to people aged 50 years and older
- monkeypox vaccines to patients recommended for vaccination aged five years and older.
In addition to this, pharmacist immunisers are now able to administer the diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis (dTpa) vaccine to anyone aged 12 years or older (previously only to those from 15 years of age).
To view the page in full, follow the link below: