National Cervical Cancer Awareness Week 2022
Almost all cervical cancers are caused by the human papillomavirus, or HPV. Most HPV infections are preventable through vaccination, with the HPV vaccine preventing 93% of cervical cancers.
National Cervical Cancer Awareness Week is taking place from 7 – 13 November and provides a strong platform to raise continued awareness of cervical cancer and unite Australians to take action to help Australia make cervical cancer history.
HPV vaccines are fully funded for all students in year 7 (or age-equivalent) through the high school immunisation program; however, any missed doses can be obtained at your GP, pharmacy or local council.
For more information visit our Human papillomavirus (HPV) immunisation reference page.
Clinical Vaccinology Update (CVU) 2022 - recordings now available
Recordings of the sessions from our recent Clinical Vaccinology Update (CVU) are now available to access via our MVEC Education Portal Homepage.
To access the recordings, attendees can sign in to our Education Portal using their existing account details or simply create an account if are a new user.
If you did not attend the event but would like to access the recordings, you can purchase access via our Educational Portal.
If you have any questions about our CVU event please contact [email protected].
Updated immunisation reference page: Monkeypox (MPX)
Monkeypox is a viral zoonosis (an infection spread from animals to humans). It is caused by a virus that belongs to the Orthopoxvirus genus (which also causes the variola virus responsible for smallpox disease and the vaccinia virus, which is used in smallpox vaccines).
Historically, smallpox vaccines have been used in the prevention of smallpox infection, however, they are also likely to be effective against monkeypox.
There are two types of smallpox vaccines available for use in Australia for the prevention of monkeypox:
- ACAM2000™ – 2nd generation, live-attenuated vaccine
- JYNNEOS® – 3rd generation, non-replicating vaccine
Our Monkeypox reference page has been updated to included expanded eligibility criteria for those at highest risk of being infected.
To view the updated page in full, follow the link below:
Updated immunisation reference page: Japanese encephalitis
Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) is a rare but potentially serious infection caused by the flavivirus and is spread to humans through mosquito bites. It is a leading cause of vaccine-preventable encephalitis (brain infection) in Asia and the Western Pacific. It has recently been detected in piggeries in Victoria and the Eastern states of Australia and human cases have been reported.
Our Japanese encephalitis reference page has been updated to include expanded eligibility criteria for Victorians in flood affected areas in Northern Victoria where more mosquitoes are present.
To view the updated page in full, follow the link below:
Upcoming event: Preventing Cervical Cancer Conference 2022
The Preventing Cervical Cancer Conference 2022 (PCC2022) is taking place on 16 – 18 November 2022 at the Sofitel Hotel in Melbourne.
The Conference will be a hybrid face-to-face and virtual event bringing together leading experts across Australia, New Zealand and the Indo-Pacific region to discuss achieving a cervical cancer free future for women and girls across these regions.
PCC2022 is hosted by the Australian Centre for the Prevention of Cervical Cancer and the NHMRC-funded Centre of Research Excellence in Cervical Cancer Control.
For more information and to register for this conference, please click on the link below.
Preventing Cervical Cancer Conference 2022
Updated Immunisation reference page: Mandatory vaccine directions in Victoria
A vaccine mandate means that proof of vaccination, or an authorised medical exemption, is required in certain settings. Mandating is generally considered a late step in optimising vaccine uptake, as it is important to ensure vaccine access is available in an equitable way, before progressing to a mandate. Vaccine mandates may vary depending on the jurisdiction and there may be some variations around Australia.
Our mandatory vaccine directions reference page has recently been updated to include the directions relevant to individuals in Victoria. They include:
- vaccine specific directions
- policy specific directions.
To view the updated page in full, follow the link below:
MVEC: Mandatory vaccine directions in Victoria
Updated Immunisation reference page: Epilepsy and immunisation page
Epilepsy is a disorder of the brain that leads to a person having seizures. Whilst the cause of epilepsy in most people is often unknown, it can include genetic conditions, brain injury or infection, hypoxic insult at birth, brain tumours or neurodegenerative diseases.
Infections, including those that are vaccine preventable (eg. measles, influenza, COVID-19 etc) can trigger seizures in people with epilepsy. Whilst vaccination is generally recommended, in rare instances a vaccine can also cause a seizure. This is why a risk/benefit assessment is important when planning vaccination for people with epilepsy.
Our reference page has recently been updated to detail:
- epilepsy and vaccine-proximate seizures
- management of immunisation in populations with genetic epilepsies prone to vaccine-proximate seizures (Dravet syndrome and GEFS+)
- immunisation recommendations and management.
To view the page in full, follow the link below:
MVEC: Epilepsy and immunisation page
Updated Immunisation reference page: Tuberculosis (BCG)
Tuberculosis (TB) is a bacterial infection that predominantly manifests in the lungs but can spread to other areas of the body including the brain, bones, kidneys and lymph nodes. Whilst Australia has some of the lowest rates of TB in the world, it is estimated that globally one-quarter of the world’s population is infected.
Our reference page has recently been updated to include information on:
- the infection and what to look for
- epidemiology
- vaccination
- tuberculin skin testing.
To view the page in full, follow the link below:
ATAGI recommendations for a booster dose of the paediatric Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine in children aged 5 to 11 years
ATAGI have recommended COVID-19 booster doses for some groups of 5-11 year olds who have previously completed a primary course of COVID-19 vaccination. Eligible groups include those with severe immunocompromise, a disability with significant or complex health needs, or those with complex/multiple health conditions that increase the risk of severe COVID-19 disease.
Boosters in this age group can be administered 3 or more months after completing a primary course of COVID-19 vaccines. An interval of 3 months between COVID-19 infection and COVID vaccines is recommended.
There is currently not enough evidence to support booster doses for other groups of 5-11 year olds, however recommendations may change as more evidence emerges. All children in this age group are recommended to receive a primary course of COVID-19 vaccination.
To read the recommendations in full please follow the link below.
Updated immunisation reference page – Shoulder Injury Related to Vaccine Administration (SIRVA)
Shoulder Injury Related to Vaccine Administration (SIRVA) is a rare but serious complication following suspected inadvertent administration of a vaccine too high in the deltoid or into the shoulder joint. It can cause a local inflammatory response and potential trauma to local structures within the shoulder joint with symptoms lasting for weeks, months or even years.
Our reference page has recently been updated to detail:
- symptoms/features of SIRVA
- impacts and implications
- diagnosis and treatment options
- how to prevent SIRVA
- where to report a case of SIRVA.
To view the page in full, follow the link below:
MVEC: Shoulder Injury Related to Vaccine Administration (SIRVA)