World Immunization Week 2025
This year's World Immunization Week runs from 24 April - 30 April 2025 and highlights the critical need to protect all communities against vaccine-preventable diseases and champion that Immunisation for All is Humanly Possible.
Vaccines are one of humanity’s greatest achievements. Over the last 50 years, essential vaccines have saved at least 154 million lives. That’s 6 lives a minute, every day, for five decades. In these 50 years, vaccination accounts for 40% of the improvement in infant survival, and more children now live to see their first birthday and beyond than at any other time in human history. Measles vaccine alone accounts for 60% of those lives saved.
Yet there are more lives to be saved by building on these achievements. Globally, 14.5 million children missed all vaccinations in 2023. In today’s interconnected world, an outbreak anywhere is a threat everywhere.
What can you do?
- make sure you are up to date with your routine vaccines
- if going overseas, ensure you see your immunisation provider at least 6 weeks prior to see if there are additional vaccines recommended for you
- share trusted information on vaccines to stop the spread of misinformation.
AAP FactCheck debunks circulating vaccine misinformation
False claims suggesting that the World Health Organization (WHO) admitted to mRNA vaccines causing mpox or breast cancer have been circulating online. AAP FactCheck have deemed both claims false.
There is no evidence to suggest a causal association between mRNA vaccines and mpox, or mRNA vaccines and breast cancer.
In Australia, adverse events following immunisation (AEFI) are thoroughly investigated by jurisdictional and national health authorities through passive and active surveillance systems. This supports our safe vaccination programs and maintains community confidence in vaccines.
AAP FactCheck: False claim linking breast cancer to mRNA vaccines misrepresents WHO study's findings
AAP FactCheck: WHO has not 'admitted' mpox is COVID vaccine side effect
ABC Health Report (podcast): Why the US measles outbreak is so concerning
In a recent episode of the Health Report (19 April 2025), paediatric infectious diseases physician Dr Linny Phuong spoke about the ongoing outbreak of measles in the United States and the increasing number of cases emerging in Australia. Key discussion points include:
- disease transmission and the importance of herd immunity
- measles disease and complications
- vaccination (including the need for earlier doses for children travelling)
- maternal protection for newborns
- misinformation and barriers to vaccination.
You can listen to the podcast here.
New podcast episode (feat. Prof Nigel Crawford): Whooping cough – What you need to know
Prof Nigel Crawford recently spoke with Dr Rebecca Overton about pertussis (whooping cough) in a new podcast episode from HealthEd.
Key features of the discussion included:
- why have there been an increase in pertussis cases
- typical presenting symptoms
- complications of pertussis
- scheduled vaccines (including maternal vaccination)
- how to address concerns about vaccination.
You can listen to the podcast here.
Chief Medical Officer’s letter regarding measles vaccination
On 15 April 2025 the Australian Department of Health and Aged Care Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Prof Anthony Lawler shared a message regarding the recent increase in confirmed cases of measles across Australia.
The CMO emphasised the critical role of vaccination in preventing measles. The full letter can be read here.
Following on from this letter, the CMO released an additional message to highlight state- and territory-funded measles programs that offer free protection to certain groups, on top of the NIP-funded groups; and the importance of checking patients’ vaccine history.
Visit your local health department’s immunisation website for more information.
Updated immunisation reference page: Translated 2025 influenza page
Translated versions of MVEC’s newly updated 2025 influenza reference page are now available. Access the reference in Vietnamese, Hindi and Simplified Chinese.
MVEC’s influenza reference page details recommendations for flu vaccination in 2025, including:
- influenza strains included in this year’s vaccines
- brands available by age and funding
- commonly asked questions.
Switch between languages using the dropdown box at the beginning of the page.
MVEC: Influenza
Australian Immunisation Handbook: Influenza chapter updated
The Australian Immunisation Handbook chapter on influenza was updated on 7 April 2025 to reflect 2025 influenza vaccine information.
Immunisation Coalition: 9th Annual Immunisation Forum (AIF)
The Immunisation Coalition will host the 9th Annual Immunisation Forum (AIF) hybrid event on Friday 13 June 2025 in Adelaide, immediately following CDIC 2025.
The meeting is tailored to GPs, practice nurses, specialists, pharmacists and other immunisation specialists.
For more information, including the program, and to register, visit the Immunisation Coalition’s event page.
Immunisation Coalition: RSV Dinner Meeting
The Immunisation Coalition will be hosting an RSV Dinner Meeting at which leading experts will discuss:
- early learnings from the maternal vaccination and infant immunisation RSV programs
- how to increase vaccination rates
- where the focus should be for adults 60 years and over.
Location: Adelaide Convention Centre, North Terrace, Adelaide OR online
Date: Tuesday 10 June 2025
Learn more and register on the Immunisation Coalition’s event page.
CDIC 2025: Earlybird registration closes 14 April 2025
Registration is open for the Communicable Diseases & Immunisation Conference (CDIC) 2025.
This year’s CDIC will be held in Adelaide from Tuesday 10 to Thursday 12 June. In addition to face-to-face registration, CDIC offers Plenary Hub registration.
Earlybird registration fees end at 11:59 pm AEST on Monday 14 April 2025.
Learn more and register on the CDIC 2025 website.