NCIRS: Australian Vaccinology Course
Applications for the upcoming National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance Australia (NCIRS) vaccinology course will close on Sunday 29 June 2025. The three-day in-person course will be held in Sydney from 28–30 August, with options to attend days 1 and 2, day 3 only, or all three days.
Learn more and apply on the NCIRS website.
JAMA: Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices at a Crossroads
Following their dismissal earlier this month from Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), 17 former members have authored an article published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA). The article outlines the history, function and importance of ACIP and highlights the authors' concern for the impact on US immunisation policy.
ACIP is the national immunisation technical advisory group (NITAG) for the United States – the equivalent of Australia’s ATAGI. ACIP has been an internationally recognised leading NITAG, holding three regular meetings each year in which the committee reviews scientific data and votes on US vaccine recommendations. These meetings have been open to the public via live webcast, and materials, including all presentation slides, have been made available for download following the meetings.
Find more information about NITAGs on the Global NITAG Network’s (GNN) website.
Immunisation Coalition: 2025 RSV Update webinar
The Immunisation Coalition will host its RSV webinar on 9 July 2025. Featuring A/Prof Nusrat Homaira with Dr Andrew Bird moderating, the webinar will cover RSV epidemiology, disease burden and an update on the maternal RSV vaccination and monoclonal antibody.
Date: 9 July 2025
Time: 6:00–7:00 pm (AEST)
Learn more and register on the Immunisation Coalition event page.
INSIG: Biennial Immunisation Conference
On 17 October, INSIG Inc (the Immunisation Nurses Special Interest Group) will hold a full-day event exploring the latest in immunisation practice, policy and innovation. Early Bird pricing is available until 1 August 2025.
Date: Friday 17 October 2025
Time: 8:45 am – 4:14 pm (AEDT)
Venue: ANMF (Vic Branch) in Melbourne
AHPC statement on measles
With the recent increase in measles cases occurring internationally and across Australia, the Australian Health Protection Committee (AHPC) has highlighted 4 key priority areas to focus efforts:
- on-time vaccination for children
- catch-up vaccination for children and adults
- vaccination for travellers (including an additional measles vaccination for those aged 6–11 months travelling to countries where outbreaks are occurring)
- nationally consistent information for healthcare providers and the public.
Measles is highly infectious, causing severe disease and complications (including otitis media, pneumonia, encephalitis, and can be fatal). Between 1 January and 27 May 2025, 77 people have been diagnosed with measles in Australia, most were people aged 20 to 49 years who were either unvaccinated or unsure of vaccine status and had travelled overseas.
Vaccination is very effective in preventing disease; receiving 2 doses of a measles-containing vaccines will protect 99% of people.
For more information, read the full AHPC statement.
MVEC: Measles
RSV Awareness Week: 1–7 June 2025
It is national RSV Awareness Week. Led by Immunisation Foundation Australia, this annual campaign aims to raise awareness of RSV and its impact, as well as champion RSV protection for infants and older adults.
Visit the RSV Awareness Week website for RSV resources and campaign assets to promote RSV protection. You can also learn more about RSV at MVEC: Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).
NCIRS: Navigating vaccination for immunocompromised patients (webinar)
This month, the National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance (NCIRS) will host webinar on vaccination in people with immunocompromise.
Date: Wednesday 25 June
Time: 12:00–1:15 pm AEST
For more information and to register, visit the webinar event page.
MVEC recently held a webinar on immunisation and special risk groups which featured Prof Nigel Crawford and A/Prof Ben Teh; a recording of this event will soon be uploaded to our Education Portal, exclusively available to users with a paid membership.