ATAGI: Update on the COVID-19 vaccination program
On 1 September 2023, ATAGI updated its recommendations for additional COVID-19 vaccines doses. An additional 2023 dose is recommended for everyone aged 75 and over (if 6 months have passed since their last dose).
Everyone aged 65 to 75 and people aged 18 to 64 with severe immunocompromise should consider an additional 2023 dose (if 6 months have passed since their last dose).
In February 2023, ATAGI recommended COVID-19 boosters for everyone aged over 65 and for people aged 18 to 64 with severe immunocompromise (if 6 months have passed since their last dose). People who were recommended to receive a booster in February and who have not yet had one should receive an additional dose as soon as possible.
ATAGI: Update on the COVID-19 vaccination program
Victorian Department of Health: Changes to Victorian vaccine cold chain management protocols
The Victorian Department of Health has recently updated vaccine cold chain management protocols, effectively immediately.
Key points
- Immunisation providers must report all cold chain breaches for government funded vaccines that have been exposed to temperatures outside the recommended +2 °C to +8 °C cold chain range. (This excludes fluctuations up to +12 °C for no more than 15 minutes during restocking, cleaning or stocktaking.)
- All government vaccine account holders must nominate a vaccine coordinator and backup person to complete the department’s Clinical/Vaccine Coordinator Cold Chain Management eLearning module.
It is important to immediately discard the old Victorian Department of Health cold chain breach refrigerator magnet.
The department encourages all staff involved in vaccine storage and cold chain management to complete the Cold chain management eLearning module.
Victorian Department of Health: Cold chain management
Queensland meningococcal B vaccination program announced
The Queensland Government has announced that, beginning in early 2024, meningococcal B vaccines will be free for all infants and children under two years old, and adolescents aged 15 to 19 years.
Meningococcal is a rare but potentially life-threatening disease caused by the bacteria Neisseria meningitidis. People with invasive meningococcal disease (IMD) can become extremely unwell very quickly. Of the 13 known subtypes of meningococcal, 5 are currently vaccine-preventable (B and A, C, W, Y).
Meningococcal ACWY vaccination is routinely administered under the National Immunisation Program (NIP). Under the NIP, meningococcal B vaccines are available to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children aged under 2 years and individuals with certain immunocompromising conditions.
MVEC recommends meningococcal ACWY and meningococcal B vaccination for anyone wishing to be protected. You can read more about IMD and vaccination on our reference page.
Queensland Government: Statement on meningococcal B vaccine
Queensland Health: Queensland menB vaccination program
Locally acquired cases of mpox (monkeypox) in Victoria
On 3 August 2023, the Victorian Department of Health issued a Chief Health Officer alert regarding local transmission of mpox (monkeypox) in Victoria.
Two locally acquired cases have been reported in Victoria.
Mpox is a viral infection. Initial symptoms include fever, headache, backache and muscle aches, fatigue and lymphadenopathy (swelling of the lymph nodes). A rash may develop 1–3 days following the beginning of the early symptoms.
The recent cases in Victoria are the first to be reported in the state since November 2022. Since May 2022, there has been an international outbreak of mpox.
People with symptoms of mpox are advised to seek medical care and testing.
Head to the MVEC mpox reference page to find out more about mpox disease and vaccine recommendations.
Health alert: Local transmission of mpox in Victoria
Victorian Department of Health: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health practitioner immunisers
From 21 August 2023, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health practitioner immunisers will be able to administer certain vaccines under a written instruction and supervision of a medical practitioner, nurse practitioner or authorised midwife.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health practitioner immunisers will be able to administer Japanese encephalitis, Mpox (monkeypox) and COVID-19 vaccinations upon completion of recognised immuniser study programs.
More details, including information on recognised immuniser study programs, can be found on the Victorian Department of Health website.
NCIRS: Influenza vaccination coverage data
The National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance (NCIRS) continues to publish weekly updates on influenza vaccine coverage in Australia.
Data published on 5 August 2023 shows that influenza vaccine coverage remains lower than this time last year.
- 26.9% of 6-month to 5-year-olds have been vaccinated (30.8% this time in 2022)
- 15.7% of 5 to 14-year-olds have been vaccinated (22.8% this time in 2022)
- 21.8% of 15 to 49-year-olds have been vaccinated (28.3% this time in 2022)
- 36.3% of 50 to 64-year-olds have been vaccinated (46.0% this time in 2022)
- 62.8% of people older 65 years and older have been vaccinated (69.4% this time in 2022)
Influenza vaccines are funded under the National Immunisation Program (NIP) for the following groups:
- Children aged 6 months to less than 5 years
- People aged 65 years and older
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 6 months and older
- Pregnant women
- People aged over 6 months with certain medical risk factors
More information can be found on our influenza reference page.
NCIRS: Influenza coverage data
Medical Journal of Australia: Local research examines COVID’s impact on cancer patients
This multicentre, national study examined the impact of COVID-19 disease on patients with cancer from March 2020 to April 2022.
Results indicated that patients with blood cancers tested positive for COVID-19 on PCR for a considerably longer time than those with solid organ tumours. Chemotherapy type or specific immunosuppressive therapies were not predictive of severe disease.
Reassuringly, the severity of COVID-19 disease in patients with cancer has decreased over time. This coincides with increasing rates of vaccination, hybrid immunity, robust testing mechanisms and the availability of and early use of antiviral therapies.
Even though newer strains of COVID-19 have the potential for evading protection induced by vaccination and antibody therapies, there is still good cross protection due to T-cell immunity. Therefore, a 3-dose course of primary vaccination as well as booster doses is recommended for severely immunocompromised individuals.
Medical Journal of Australia: Local research examines COVID’s impact on cancer patients
The dangers of vaccine misinformation: Robert F Kennedy Jr
Recently, you may have read about Robert F Kennedy Jr’s anti-vaccine views after he was featured on Joe Rogan’s podcast. Robert F Kennedy Jr is a long-time promoter of vaccine misinformation.
A recent report from the MSNBC news network in the United States demonstrates the real-world dangers of vaccine misinformation.
The report examines how the 2019 measles epidemic in Samoa was linked to Robert F Kennedy’s statements on the measles vaccine. Robert F Kennedy Jr's anti-vaccine group Children’s Health Defense bolstered a local Samoan anti-vaccine movement which had emerged in response to the 2018 deaths of two children after vaccine administration errors. The anti-vaccine movement misrepresented the vaccine itself as the cause of death, leading to a significant decrease in vaccination rates.
Not only did vaccine misinformation contribute to the devastating measles epidemic, but it also overshadowed important discussions relating to vaccine errors.
Nurse and educator Jessica Stokes-Parish has written Vaccine Concerns & SciComm: An Analysis about the scientific community’s reaction to Robert F Kennedy Jr. From a science communications lens, she analyses some common strategies that may be intended to discredit misinformation but fail to engage and educate the general public.
Department of Health and Aged Care: Vaccination for Our Mob
Based on National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance (NCIRS) data, the Vaccination for Our Mob report has recently been published. The report focuses on vaccine-preventable diseases and vaccine coverage in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people from 2016 to 2019.
Reminder: Victorian Government funded pertussis program has ended
As of 1 July 2023, the Victorian Government funded pertussis (whooping cough) vaccination program, for partners of pregnant women and guardians of infants, is no longer running.
Partners of pregnant women and close household contacts of newborn infants are still encouraged to be vaccinated and can access a pertussis-containing vaccine privately.
Pregnant women, between 20 and 32 weeks, remain eligible for a funded pertussis vaccine through the National Immunisation Program (NIP).