This information is accurate as of 18/6/2026. Please refer back to the website to ensure all reference information is current and up-to-date.

Month: February 2026

Updated immunisation reference page: Specialist immunisation services

MVEC’s Specialist immunisation services page was recently updated to include details of the new antenatal vaccination service at Northern Health.

Find more details about the new service at MVEC: Specialist immunisation services.

by Alice Black

ABC: Parents fail to return consent forms as Far North Queensland HPV vaccination rate drops

Queensland’s HPV vaccination rates have declined since 2019. Public health experts are concerned about particularly low vaccination rates in some areas, pointing to systemic issues causing students to miss vaccines.

Read the article in full at ABC: Parents fail to return consent forms as Far North Queensland HPV vaccination rate drops.

Read more about human papillomavirus at MVEC: HPV.

by Alice Black

Victorian Department of Health: Ongoing measles alert

The health alert for increased travel-related measles cases in Victoria remains open. The health alert includes a list of public exposure sites and details about the current risk of measles. Measles cases have also been reported in other jurisdictions (including NSW, Qld, SA and WA).

Read Victoria’s measles alert in full at Increased travel-related measles cases in Victoria. 

Vaccination is the best way to protect yourself and others against measles. Read more about measles disease, transmission, epidemiology and prevention at MVEC: Measles. 

by Alice Black

WHO: Myth-busters: debunking long COVID myths and misconceptions

The World Health Organization (WHO) has developed 8 myth-busters and accompanying resources to counter misinformation about long COVID. 

Share campaign materials to help debunk myths and misconceptions. Read more and access materials at WHO: Myth-busters: debunking long COVID myths and misconceptions. 

Read more about COVID-19 disease at MVEC: COVID-19.

by Alice Black

Australian CDC: Nipah Virus Infection Situation Update

On 9 February the Australian Centre for Disease Control (CDC) published its latest situation update on Nipah virus infection in West Bengal, India and Rajshahi, Bangladesh. The report includes details about the current situation and its relevance to Australia, and details about Nipah virus epidemiology.

Read the full report here: Australian CDC Situation update: Nipah virus infection in West Bengal, India and Rajshahi, Bangladesh

by Alice Black

Benchmarque Group: Upcoming virtual workshops

Benchmarque Group will host 2 virtual workshops on the topic of immunisation catchup. Learn more and register for workshops via the event pages linked below. 

Basic Catchups for Immunisation: 23 April 2026 
Complex Catchups for Immunisation: 30 April 2026

Learn more about immunisation catchups at MVEC: Catch-up immunisation

by Alice Black

Spleen Australia webinar: Living Without a Spleen: Translating Guidelines into Everyday Care

Spleen Australia presents this practical, case-based webinar, designed to support GPs and other healthcare providers to confidently apply current Australian recommendations and integrate Spleen Australia into routine primary care workflows. 

Date: 17 March 2026
Time: 6:00–8:00 pm (AEDT) 

Registration details:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88438345169?pwd=T9yEIvM3Ppq0xouzAgMURfJHKHuuTh.1
Meeting ID - 88438345169
Password - 3VZ7QU 

by Alice Black

WHO webinar: Real-World Evidence on RSV Vaccines and Monoclonal Antibodies: Effectiveness, Surveillance, and Early Implementation Insights

This upcoming World Health Organization webinar will share early real-world evidence on RSV prevention product effectiveness, genomic surveillance findings on breakthrough infections, and key programmatic lessons from early adopting countries. 

Date: 25 February 2026 
Time: 9:00–10:30 am (CET) (7:00–8:30 pm AEDT) 

Register here

Learn more about RSV disease, transmission, epidemiology and prevention at MVEC: RSV

by Alice Black

Victorian Department of Health: Nurse immunisers approved to administer MMR vaccines to infants from 6 months of age

Victoria’s Chief Health Officer has approved Nurse Immunser-led administration of measles-containing vaccines to infants from 6 months of age who are travelling overseas. This authorisation is in accordance with ATAGI recommendations.

Victorian Department of Health: Nurse immunisers – approved client groups

MVEC: Measles

by Alice Black

Intradermal injection essentials: New eLearning available now

We are excited to share that MVEC’s latest eLearning package is now available!

Regardless of your experience, the Intradermal injection essentials eLearning provides healthcare professionals with the foundation knowledge needed when administering intradermal injections. 

To get started, you will need to be an Education Portal member. Members receive exclusive access not only to our suite of eLearnings but also to past webinar recordings and special ticket prices for face-to-face MVEC events. 

If you’re not already a member, become one now through your new or existing Education Portal profile. 

This course was made possible through the 2025 GSK Immunisation Award, presented to MVEC at the Public Health Association of Australia’s (PHAA) Communicable Diseases and Immunisation Conference in 2025. MVEC has complete control over the content, and is independent of GSK and PHAA. 

by Alice Black

About MVEC

The Melbourne Vaccine Education Centre (MVEC) is an educational website, developed with the aim of providing up-to-date immunisation information for both healthcare professionals and members of the public. We are based at Murdoch Children’s Research Institute (MCRI), a research organisation, and are affiliated with SAEFVIC (Surveillance of Adverse Events Following Vaccination in the Community), the Victorian Vaccine Safety Service.

Latest news

June 18, 2026

ACIPC 2026 International Conference: 8–11 November
June 18, 2026

Updated immunisation reference page: Pneumococcal