BMJ: Considerations for vaccinating children against COVID-19
In July, BMJ published a literature review led by researchers at the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute (MCRI) including MVEC Director Prof Nigel Crawford. The paper describes COVID-19 in children, with a focus on low-income and middle-income countries, and summarises the published literature on safety, efficacy and effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccination in children and adolescents.
The review emphasises that at-risk groups should be prioritised for COVID-19 vaccination. According to the review, COVID-19 vaccines are effective against severe COVID-19 in children and adolescents, although there is limited additional benefit in healthy children given widespread infection-derived immunity.
For more information, access the publication and accompanying MCRI news story below.
BJM Paediatrics Open: Considerations for vaccinating children against COVID-19
MCRI: COVID-19 vaccines are effective against severe cases in children
Aotearoa New Zealand Immunisation Conference 2023 and pre-conference Workshop
The Immunisation Advisory Centre (IMAC) will hold a one-day workshop followed by a two-day conference from 15 to 17 November 2023.
The conference (16–17 November) will feature a range of vaccine-related topics, including:
- immunisation programs and policy
- maternal vaccination
- vaccination in the Pacific Island and NZ Pacific communities
- communications, countering misinformation and vaccine safety
- learnings, connections and supporting undeserved groups
- new vaccines and vaccine technologies.
The pre-conference workshops (15 November) is aimed at people providing and supporting immunisation services. National and international vaccine program content will be relevant to vaccination practice in New Zealand.
Visit Aotearoa New Zealand Immunisation Conference 2023 and pre-conference Workshop for more information and to register.
2023 SA Vaccinology Conference
The 10th annual SA Vaccinology Conference will be held on 3 November 2023.
The theme of this year’s conference is ‘The Future of Vaccines’. Led by Prof Helen Marshall, 2022 SA Australian of the Year and professor in vaccinology at the University of Adelaide, the conference brings healthcare professionals together to hear the latest research and policy updates related to immunisation in Australia.
Friday 3 November, 8:30 am to 6:30 pm
Hickinbotham Hall, National Wine Centre of Australia
Visit 2023 SA Vaccinology Conference for more information and to register.
Updated monovalent mRNA COVID-19 vaccines approved by FDA
On 11 September, the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved COVID-19 vaccines updated to include a monovalent component that targets currently circulating variants.
Bivalent Moderna and Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines are no longer authorised for use in the US.
In Australia, bivalent COVID-19 vaccines (those which target the original/ancestral strain of the virus as well as an Omicron subvariant) continue to be recommended for primary vaccination and boosters in people aged 12 years and older.
Read more in the FDA’s press release: FDA: Updated mRNA COVID-19 vaccines
Current ATAGI advice on bivalent COVID-19 vaccines:
ATAGI: Recommendations on use of the Pfizer bivalent COVID-19 vaccine (February 2023)
ATAGI: Recommendations on use of the Moderna bivalent COVID-19 vaccine (February 2023)
ATAGI: Advice on the preferential use of bivalent COVID-19 vaccines for primary vaccination of people aged 12 years or older (May 2023)
The Lancet: Surge of invasive group A strep in Australia
The Lancet recently published a study, analysing data from the Paediatric Active Enhanced Disease Surveillance (PAEDS) Networks, which shows Australia experienced an intense and unseasonal surge of invasive group A streptococcal disease in 2022.
The national research project involved researchers from Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, including MVEC Director Prof Nigel Crawford.
Read the study in full: Increase in invasive group A streptococcal disease among Australian children coinciding with northern hemisphere surges
NCIRS: New Vaxelis and Infanrix hexa resource
The National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance (NCIRS) has published a new resource to answer common questions about the Vaxelis and Infanrix hexa vaccines.
Vaxelis and Infanrix hexa are hexavalent (six-in-one) vaccines that protect against diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, hepatitis B, poliomyelitis and haemophilus influenzae type B (Hib).
NCIRS: Vaxelis and Infanrix hexa resource
CVU: Tickets now on sale
Tickets are now available for the 2023 Clinical Vaccinology Update (CVU). This year’s CVU will be held on 30 October at the University of Melbourne.
Earlybird tickets are on sale until 15 September.
MVEC is offering Victorian regional immunisation providers the chance to win free CVU registration! This promotion closes on 11 September.
ATAGI: Update on the COVID-19 vaccination program
On 1 September 2023, ATAGI updated its recommendations for additional COVID-19 vaccines doses. An additional 2023 dose is recommended for everyone aged 75 and over (if 6 months have passed since their last dose).
Everyone aged 65 to 75 and people aged 18 to 64 with severe immunocompromise should consider an additional 2023 dose (if 6 months have passed since their last dose).
In February 2023, ATAGI recommended COVID-19 boosters for everyone aged over 65 and for people aged 18 to 64 with severe immunocompromise (if 6 months have passed since their last dose). People who were recommended to receive a booster in February and who have not yet had one should receive an additional dose as soon as possible.
ATAGI: Update on the COVID-19 vaccination program
Victorian Department of Health: Changes to Victorian vaccine cold chain management protocols
The Victorian Department of Health has recently updated vaccine cold chain management protocols, effectively immediately.
Key points
- Immunisation providers must report all cold chain breaches for government funded vaccines that have been exposed to temperatures outside the recommended +2 °C to +8 °C cold chain range. (This excludes fluctuations up to +12 °C for no more than 15 minutes during restocking, cleaning or stocktaking.)
- All government vaccine account holders must nominate a vaccine coordinator and backup person to complete the department’s Clinical/Vaccine Coordinator Cold Chain Management eLearning module.
It is important to immediately discard the old Victorian Department of Health cold chain breach refrigerator magnet.
The department encourages all staff involved in vaccine storage and cold chain management to complete the Cold chain management eLearning module.
Victorian Department of Health: Cold chain management