The Australian Immunisation Handbook guidance about the vaccination of special risk groups was recently updated.
As of 2 May 2025, a significantly updated chapter on immunocompromise provides clear definitions and categorises the level of immunocompromise across various types of conditions. Subsections in this chapter include:
- Introduction and general principles
- Inborn errors of immunity (IEI), including primary immunodeficiency
- Secondary (acquired) immunodeficiency due to medical conditions
- Secondary (acquired) immunodeficiency due to medical therapies
- People with asplenia and hyposplenia
- Infants exposed to immunosuppressive therapy in utero or through breastmilk
- Close contacts of people who are immunocompromised
- Travellers who are immunocompromised.
The Vaccination for women who are planning pregnancy, pregnant or breastfeeding and Vaccination for international travellers chapters were also updated.
MVEC: Immunosuppression and vaccines
MVEC: Immunosuppression in pregnancy and infant vaccine recommendations
MVEC: Maternal vaccination