ABC: Ghana becomes first country in world to approve Oxford University’s new R21 malaria vaccine
Ghana has become the first country to approve a new malaria vaccine, a possible step forwarding in fighting the disease.
This is the second malaria vaccine to be approved, following RTS,S which is currently recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO). According to WHO, 100 million doses are needed annually to cover 25 million children but, due to lack of funding and commercial potential, RTS,S manufacturer GSK has only committed to 15 million doses each year up to 2028.
A second vaccine is urgently needed.
Malaria kills more than 600,000 people each year. In 2021, there were an estimated 247 million cases of malaria with 95% of cases occurring in the WHO African Region. Children under 5 are the most vulnerable group affected by malaria.
Malaria vaccines have taken decades to develop due to the complicated structure of the malaria parasite.
Final-stage trial data for the R21 vaccine is yet to be published and regulatory bodies including the World Health Organization are still assessing the vaccine’s safety and effectiveness.
ABC: Ghana becomes first country in world to approve Oxford University’s new R21 malaria vaccine
NCIRS: Webinar - HPV in 2023
The National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance (NCIRS) is hosting a webinar on the latest HPV vaccine recommendations and research on 5 May, 2023 at 2pm AEST.
Leading researchers will present 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.
Healthcare providers, register here.
Australian Government: New campaign to improve childhood vaccination rates
The Australian Government has launched a new campaign to improve childhood vaccination rates.
The campaign theme is ‘One more way you keep them safe’, highlighting the importance of vaccinating children according to the National Immunisation Program schedule and encouraging parents and caregivers to seek out reliable information about vaccines.
Despite Australia’s high childhood immunisation rates, data shows a downward trend in childhood vaccination over the last two years. More information is available on the Australian Department of Health and Aged Care website.
Australian Government: Childhood Immunisation
WHO SAGE: Updated Roadmap for prioritizing uses of COVID-19 vaccines
The World Health Organization’s Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization (SAGE) has updated its Roadmap for prioritizing uses of COVID-19 vaccines to include vaccination information relating to:
- specific recommendations for primary series vaccination and booster doses according to priority groups
- need and frequency of further booster doses following an initial booster
- variant-specific vaccines
- vaccination during pregnancy
- post COVID-19 conditions.
These updated guidelines align with ATAGI’s current recommendation for prioritising vaccination of those with a high risk of severe disease. This includes the current guidance for not recommending booster doses in healthy children.
To read this guidance in full follow the link below:
WHO SAGE Roadmap for prioritizing uses of COVID-19 vaccines
AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccines have now expired
As of 20 March 2023, all AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine (Vaxzevria) stock available in Australia has expired.
Any remaining stock should not be administered and should be disposed of according to your state or territory’s requirements.
Nuvaxovid (Novavax), Spikevax (Moderna) and Comirnaty (Pfizer) remain available for COVID-19 vaccine administration.
NCIRS: Recording of COVID-19 and influenza vaccination update 2023
The National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance (NCIRS) has recently uploaded recordings of presentations from its annual influenza webinar, held on 16 March 2023.
This year, the webinar included presentations on:
- Learnings from the recent northern hemisphere winter experience managing COVID-19 and influenza
- The latest Australian COVID-19 vaccination and booster recommendations
- 2023 Australian influenza vaccination recommendations across the lifespan, including important changes for 0-5 year olds
ATAGI recommendations on the use of the Moderna bivalent (Original/Omicron 4/5) COVID-19 vaccine
ATAGI have updated their recommendations on the use of the Moderna bivalent COVID vaccine, with it now being recommended as an option in anyone aged 12 years and over who is eligible for a booster dose.
The Moderna bivalent vaccine contains equal parts of mRNA from the spike proteins from the ancestral strain of SARS-CoV-2 and the Omicron BA.4/5 subvariant.
Bivalent vaccines are the preferred option for booster doses as early evidence indicates they provide greater protection against hospitalisation or death from circulating subvariants than the original Moderna or Pfizer vaccines.
They are not recommended for use in a primary course of COVID vaccination.
For read the ATAGI recommendations in full, head to the link below:
ATAGI recommendations on the use of the Moderna bivalent (Original/Omicron 4/5) COVID-19 vaccine
HPV schedule changes from February 2023
Following the review of a large volume of international evidence, ATAGI have recommended that a single dose of Gardasil®9 (human papillomavirus vaccine) provides comparable protection in immune competent individuals compared with a 2 dose course. This recommendation is in line advice from the World Health Organization Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization (SAGE) and the UK’s Joint Committee on Vaccination Immunisation (JCVI).
As a result, from February 6 2023, the National Immunisation program (NIP) moved to a single dose only Gardasil®9 schedule for immune competent adolescents aged 12-13 years. Individuals who have previously received 1 dose only and are waiting to receive their second dose no longer need to receive this dose, and are considered up to date. The Gardasil®9 catch-up program has also changed to a single dose only and has been extended to all individuals up 25 years and under.
Immunocompromised individuals are still recommended to receive a 3 dose course of vaccination to ensure optimum protection.
MVEC holiday period closure
On behalf of the MVEC Team, we wish you a very happy and safe holiday season with your loved ones.
Our team will be taking a break and will return in February to provide you with more vaccine education, resources and events in 2023. We'd love to hear from you if there are any specific vaccine topics you would like to see covered next year!
We also want to say a huge thank you to all our amazing collaborators who have kindly shared their expert knowledge across a number of important vaccine topics and across all of the MVEC platforms this year!
If you’re travelling this holiday season, stay safe, make sure your vaccines are up to date and pack your sunscreen and insect repellent!
ATAGI recommendations on the use of Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine for children ages 6 months to 4 years
ATAGI have now recommended the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine for use in some children aged 6 months – 5 years (The Moderna <5 COVID-19 vaccine has already been recommended for use in this group). Eligible groups include those with severe immunocompromise, a disability with severe or complex health needs, or those with multiple/complex health conditions that increase the risk of severe COVID-19 disease.
A primary three-dose schedule, 8 weeks apart is recommended, with the dose being 3mcg. Unlike Moderna’s primary schedule in this age group, 3 doses are recommended for all eligible children <5 years, regardless of their immune status.
There is no brand preference in this age group, however ATAGI recommend a primary schedule is completed with the same vaccine.
ATAGI does not currently recommend COVID vaccination for children aged 6 months - 5 years who are not in the categories previously mentioned, based on a range of factors.
Recommendations may change as alternative brands or variant COVID-19 vaccines become available in this age group, or if there are epidemiological changes such as new variants of concern that emerge.
To read the ATAGI statement in full, follow the link below:
ATAGI recommendations on the use of Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine for children ages 6 months to 4 years