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ATAGI advice on the preferential use of bivalent COVID-19 vaccines for primary vaccination of people aged 12 years or older
ATAGI has reviewed the latest evidence regarding the use of bivalent COVID-19 vaccines. It is now recommended that individuals aged 12 years and over receive bivalent vaccines for primary vaccination and booster doses in preference over using the original/ancestral strain vaccines. Whilst safety and immunogenicity data for bivalent vaccines in a primary series is limited, the safety profile when used as a booster dose is similar to when original/ancestral vaccines are used.
- Individuals aged 12-17 years are recommended to receive BA.4/5-containing bivalent vaccines for primary vaccination and booster doses.
- Individuals aged 18 years and over can receive either BA.1-containing or BA.4/5-containing vaccines for primary vaccination and booster doses.
- Individuals aged 12 and over who have commenced their primary course with an original (ancestral) vaccine are recommended to complete the course with a bivalent vaccine.
- There are no bivalent vaccines currently available for use in children aged 6 months-11 years and therefore original/ancestral strain vaccines should continue to be used (noting that booster doses are not recommended for anyone under 5 years of age).
There are no changes to who is recommended to receive booster doses. Schedules and intervals between doses also remain unchanged.
Victorian Department of Health: Vaccine error management
The Victorian Department of Health has recently introduced a new immunisation resource on vaccine error management.
The resource includes easy-to-understand information about preventing vaccine errors and the most common vaccine errors, as well as directions for reporting vaccine errors to SAEFVIC (Surveillance of Adverse Events Following Vaccination In the Community).
Department of Health: Vaccine error management
Updated immunisation reference page: COVID-19
We have recently updated our COVID-19 immunisation reference page to streamline information. You can now find COVID-19 information and recommendations for adults and children on one page.
The updated page outlines the vaccines currently available, primary schedules and booster dose recommendations across age groups and for special risk groups. The page also includes answers to commonly asked questions.
For other COVID-19-related information, see:
MVEC: COVID-19 vaccines and allergy
New immunisation reference page: Haemophilus influenzae type B (Hib)
Haemophilus influenzae type B (Hib) is a vaccine-preventable strain of haemophilus influenzae bacteria. Even with treatment, 3% of Hib meningitis cases occurring in developed countries will be fatal and 10-30% of cases will have permanent neurological complications.
Before vaccination was included on the National Immunisation Program (NIP) in 1992, Hib was the biggest cause of invasive bacterial infection in children in Australia. Since then, the number of Hib infections notified has reduced by 95%.
Our new immunisation reference page includes information on Hib transmission, epidemiology and prevention.
MVEC: Haemophilus influenzae type B (Hib)
ABS-CBN: Over 3 million kids vaxxed in first week of ‘Chikiting Ligtas’ - DOH
The Philippines Department of Health, with the support of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the World Health Organization (WHO), recently launched ‘Chikiting Ligtas 2023’, a nationwide immunisation catch-up campaign to vaccinate children against measles, rubella and polio.
More than 3 million children have been vaccinated in the campaign’s first week.
Vaccine catch-up was the theme of WHO’s World Immunization Week in April this year. The Philippines has the fifth highest number of zero dose children, children who have not received any routine vaccines, globally.
ABS-CBN: Over 3 million kids vaxxed in first week of ‘Chikiting Ligtas’ - DOH
Updated reference page: Development and registration of vaccines
Vaccines, like any medication in development, must undergo rigorous testing procedures and scientific evaluation to prove not only their effect on the targeted disease, but also to determine their safety, before being licensed and registered for use in vaccination programs.
Our newly updated Vaccine development and registration page includes information about vaccine clinical trials, post-licensure surveillance, registration and provisional approval, as well as health economics assessments of vaccines.
Updated MVEC: Development and registration of vaccines
AAP FactCheck: No evidence of link between vaccine and ovary damage
MVEC director Professor Nigel Crawford spoke to the Australian Associated Press FactCheck team, addressing claims made about the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine, Gardasil®9.
It has been claimed that the HPV vaccine can damage the ovaries and that is has been withdrawn from use in the United States. AAP FactCheck deemed this claim false.
Prof Crawford confirmed there is no evidence to support the claim that the HPV vaccine causes damage to the ovaries. The claim stems from a longstanding myth that the vaccine is associated with premature ovarian failure (POF). "The timing of the HPV vaccine around puberty (12-13 years) has led to some of these concerns (about POF) being raised", Prof Crawford said.
Prof Crawford further confirmed there is no evidence to support claims that the HPV vaccine is linked to seizures.
AAP Factcheck: No evidence of link between vaccine and ovary damage
2023-24 Federal Budget: Shingrix to replace Zostavax on NIP
The 2023-24 Federal Budget has allocated $446.7 million to replace Zostaxav with Shingrix, a different zoster (shingles) vaccine, on the National Immunisation Program (NIP).
Shingrix is an inactivated vaccine whereas Zostavax is a live-attenuated vaccine, unsafe for immunosuppressed people. This means people with immunocompromise will now be able to access funded protection against the development of herpes zoster.
Further details regarding which populations will be able to access Shingrix on the NIP have not been announced.
NCIRS: Recording of HPV in 2023 webinar
The National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance (NCIRS) has recently uploaded recordings of presentations from its recent HPV in 2023 webinar, held on 5 May 2023.
Leading researchers presented on:
- the HPV vaccine and its impact in Australia and globally
- a roadmap for cervical cancer elimination in Australia and our region
- changes to the Australian HPV vaccination schedule and their implications
- initiatives designed to maintain high levels of HPV vaccine coverage.
NCIRS HPV in 2023 webinar recordings