NCIRS webinar: Upcoming National Immunisation Program changes: what you need to know
On the 1st July 2020 important changes to the National Immunisation Program (NIP) and recommendations for pneumococcal, meningococcal and hepatitis A vaccinations will take effect.
NCIRS are hosting a webinar about these changes on June 16th at 1pm (AEST). Register for the webinar at the link below:
NCIRS: Upcoming NIP changes: what you need to know
Yellow fever vaccination in egg-allergic children
Yellow Fever is a disease transmitted by mosquito vector, which can lead to serious complications or even death. Treatment is supportive, with vaccination being the most important strategy in preventing the disease; providing immunity in more than 95% of people who receive the vaccine. Currently, many guidelines advise that egg anaphylaxis is a contraindication to receiving a yellow fever vaccine (YFV), with the Australian Immunisation Handbook recommending people requiring the vaccine discuss this with an immunologist or allergist due to the YFV containing egg ovalbumin.
Due to the serious nature of the disease, some countries requiring proof of immunisation as an entry requirement and the widely varying guidelines pertaining to YFV in egg-allergic people; researchers from the National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance (NCIRS), and the Royal Children’s Hospital in Melbourne, have published a case series proposing that skin testing may not be required for patients with mild egg allergy, and that a 2-step graded challenge under medical supervision is a safe alternative.
Read more about their findings and recommendations here:
The Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal: Yellow Fever Vaccination in EGG Allergic Children
NCIRS: Yellow Fever vaccination in egg-allergic children
Upcoming changes to the NIP from July 1, 2020
On July 1, 2020, there will be several changes to the National Immunisation Program (NIP):
Eligibility for free NIP pneumococcal vaccines (Prevenar 13®, Pneumovax 23®)
- Ceasing Pneumovax 23® for healthy non-Indigenous adults at 65 years of age
- Commencing Prevenar 13® for healthy non-Indigenous adults ≥70 years of age
- Commencing Prevenar 13® for Indigenous adults at ≥50 years of age plus Pneumovax 23® x 2 doses in a lifetime
- Commencing Prevenar 13® for >12 months of age (including adolescents and adults) with newly diagnosed risk conditions plus Pneumovax 23® x 2 doses in a lifetime
- New eligibility criteria for risk conditions
Eligibility for free NIP meningococcal B (Bexsero®) vaccine:
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander infants receive 2 primary doses of Bexsero® and 1 booster dose – 2, 4 and 12 months of age
- Bexsero® catch-up is available for all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children <2 years of age for 3 years until 30 June 2023
- Some people with risk conditions will be eligible for Bexsero®
Read more about the changes here:
COVID19 Road to a vaccine episode 2: Professor Kathryn Edwards
- Professor Edwards' perspective on vaccine safety across her roles as a clinician/scientist/researcher
- Adverse events following immunisation and their implications when developing new vaccines
- Vaccine safety across the different phases (I to IV) of clinical trials
- The importance of data safety and monitoring committees in vaccine trials
- What we can learn from the historical research into the development of SARS and MERS vaccines
- What is ADE (antibody-dependent enhancement of virus infection) and why is it an important consideration in COVID19 vaccine development?
- What are adjuvants and how does the use of them affect safety planning?
- Should pregnant women and children be involved in vaccine trials and how can their participation be managed safely?
- The importance of transparency and honest communication with the public in regards to vaccine safety
You can listen to the episode via our podcast page or via the links below:
COVID19 Road to a vaccine episode 1: Professor Stanley Plotkin
In Episode 1 of our new podcast series, Associate Professor Nigel Crawford, a vaccinologist and consultant paediatrician at the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute (MCRI) & Royal Children’s Hospital (RCH), Melbourne, talks with Stanley Plotkin, Emeritus Professor of Paediatrics at the University of Pennsylvania; who is well known internationally for his role in vaccine development.
In this episode they discuss:
- Professor Plotkin’s role in the development of the rubella vaccine, still used throughout the world today
- His role as the Editor in Chief of the ‘Vaccines’ textbook
- His role in the formation of the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness and Innovation (CEPI) and CEPI’s current role in global COVID-19 vaccine development
- What can we learn from the H1N1 pandemic in the development of a COVID-19 vaccine?
- How developing a vaccine against coronaviruses is critical to the future of civilisation as economies are being destroyed by these viruses
- Human challenge models and some of the ethical considerations we need to tackle if these sorts of trials are going to be undertaken to support COVID-19 vaccine development
- Success can only be achieved through global collaboration in the pursuit of a COVID-19 vaccine
- How the practical aspects of distributing a vaccine on this scale have never been faced before and the importance of thinking outside the box!
Resources:
- Plotkin's Vaccines (7th edition)
- Vaccine: Extraordinary diseases require extraordinary solutions
- CEPI: Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness and Innovation
Listen to the episode here:
Spreaker - Apple Podcasts - Spotify Podcasts
Special MVEC podcast series: COVID19 Road to a vaccine
The year 2020 has seen the emergence of the SARS-CoV-2 virus (COVID19), a unique and potentially devastating virus, with no known prevention or treatment. This new SARS-2 virus has shown to not only have significant international health implications, but also immense psychological and economic impacts. Associate Professor Nigel Crawford, a vaccinologist and consultant paediatrician at the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute (MCRI) & Royal Children’s Hospital (RCH), Melbourne, will delve into the global pursuit of a safe and effective vaccine to prevent COVID19. This is all occurring at ‘pandemic speed’ and MVEC’s new podcast will explore this complicated and multi-faceted process through interviews with a variety of national and international vaccine experts.
In our first few episodes, we will be talking with vaccine experts Emeritus Professor Stanley Plotkin, Professor Kathryn Edwards and Professor Andrew Pollard.
Listen via our podcast page or subscribe below on your preferred podcast platform:
Spreaker - Apple podcasts - Spotify podcasts
Who's leading the race? A guide to coronavirus vaccines in the pipeline
This article from the ABC takes a closer look at some of the candidates in the race to making an effective SARS-CoV-2 vaccine. It looks at the ten vaccines currently in human trials (as at May 24, 2020).
Different kinds of vaccines in development are also discussed, both an experimental genetic vaccine as well as a viral vector vaccine; and which stage of trials these vaccines are currently at.
Read more here:
ABC: Who's leading the race? A guide to coronavirus vaccines in the pipeline
Stay tuned for our latest podcast series launching this week, COVID19 Road to a vaccine. Associate Professor Nigel Crawford, Director of SAEFVIC, will be discussing the different steps involved in creating a new vaccine with global vaccine experts.
Hepatitis A outbreak in Victoria
There is an ongoing hepatitis A outbreak in Victoria largely among people use drugs (primarily by injection) and people experiencing homelessness. According to the Department of Health, as of the 6th May 2020, there have been 56 confirmed cases and 6 possible cases associated with this outbreak since mid 2019.
In order to control this outbreak a hepatitis A vaccination program targeting affected people groups (people who use drugs and those experiencing homelessness) will be available until the 31st August, 2020.
Hepatitis B vaccine should also be offered as hepatitis B and C have a high rate of prevalence among people who inject drugs. Influenza vaccine should also be offered.
Read the full Department of Health advisory here: Hepatitis A outbreak
New NCIRS resource - Influenza vaccination during COVID-19 - FAQs for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are at an increased risk of serious disease when they contract influenza. During the current COVID-19 pandemic, it is more important than ever that Aboriginal Torres Strait Islander people are accessing an influenza vaccine. The influenza vaccine is funded under the National Immunisation Program for all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 6-months and over.
NCIRS have created a new FAQ resource addressing questions most frequently asked by people in the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community:
NCIRS: Influenza vaccination during COVID-19 - FAQs for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
Are children with asthma at a greater risk of severe disease with COVID-19?
The Murdoch Children’s Research Institute (MCRI) are conducting extensive research into why children are more mildly affected by COVID-19. They are also investigating whether chronic health conditions such as asthma increase the risk of severe disease.
Read more about how children with asthma may be affected by COVID-19 at the link below:
MCRI: COVID-19 and asthma: what are the risks for children?