Measles alert
Several cases of measles have recently been confirmed in Victoria. Measles is a highly contagious disease that can cause rash, fevers, cough and in severe cases can result in fatal complications including pneumonia and brain inflammation. Please refer to MVEC for further information on Measles or the Chief Health Officer Alert
The power of vaccinating pregnant women- an interesting article
"Vaccinating pregnant women is crucial, and a way of plugging the "immunisation loophole" and protecting their unborn babies"
Below is a link to an interesting article, published by the BBC, outlining the importance of vaccinating pregnant women
http://www.bbc.com/news/health-36335609
Yellow Fever Update: New Yellow Fever vaccination certificate requirements
Yellow fever vaccine is required for travellers to affected areas in Africa and South America (CDC maps of Yellow Fever regions) and significant outbreaks continue (see Lancet: Yellow Fever: a global reckoning). There have been recent changes in vaccination requirements, with many countries now accepting life-long validity of yellow fever certificate. This is in line with WHO Health Assembly recommendations effective from June 2016, following reviews which found a single dose of the vaccine offers protection for life.
The Australian Government is adopting the WHO amendment for the yellow fever vaccine from the 16th of June 2016, with current border control processes in place until this time (Department of Health: Yellow Fever factsheet).
Clinicians can consult the list of the yellow fever certificate requirements for individual countries, including the current accepted period of validity for yellow fever vaccination certificates, on the recent "International Travel and Health" WHO publication (Yellow Fever vaccination requirements by destination)
Alert: Falsified “AMARIL" Yellow Fever vaccines circulating in South East Asia
Families often request administration of vaccines overseas, due to cheaper costs, despite unknowns regarding supply and quality of vaccines.
The WHO has recently issued a statement confirming falsified Yellow Fever vaccines have been circulating in Bangladesh. The product is able to be identified by a number of ‘falsified elements on the packaging… as well as other inconsistencies through visual inspection”. No serious adverse reactions have been identified, the broader distribution of the falsified vaccine is not described. The full details together with images of the product are available on the WHO alert.
Another reason to have yellow fever vaccine in Australia is to make sure you are optimally protected at the time of arrival. As a live attenuated vaccine, it takes 3-4 weeks for the vaccine to produce protection from this serious disease.
No Jab No Play
The Victorian state Government’s recently proposed ‘No Jab, No Play’ legislation will be effective from the 1st of January 2016.
The aim of these changes is to improve vaccination rates and reduce the spread of vaccine preventable diseases. It will require confirmation of vaccination status when enrolling for childcare. Similar legislation is already in place in NSW and Queensland.
More details on the legislation and documentation required are in the Resources section of the 'No Jab no Play' page on our MVEC website
BCG vaccine availability
Note: there is currently a worldwide shortage of BCG vaccine.
The current Australian supply ends December 31st 2015 and at this stage there is no replacement BCG vaccine available.
To make a BCG clinic appointment before 2016, please see the Resources on the BCG Vaccine immunisation reference page.
For more information on the BCG vaccine please follow the link to our website BCG Vaccine
New Measles Alert
Measles is a highly contagious disease that causes skin rash and fever. (In severe cases, it can lead to sometimes fatal complications such as pneumonia and brain inflammation.)
Melbourne is experiencing increased measles activity—several children have been admitted to the RCH, and cases have occurred in returned travellers.
Anyone who hasn’t been immunised is at high risk of infection—particularly children and healthcare workers.
To help stop the spread of measles, please share this information:
- Immunisation is the best protection against measles.
- Under the National Immunisation Program, a 1st measles vaccine dose is recommended at 12 months of age. A 2nd routine dose is recommended either at 18 months of age or 3.5 to 4 years of age (depending on date of birth).
- If parents request an early second dose for their child (for example, because they are aged between 13 months and 4 years), a second dose can be provided at least one month after the initial dose.
- The second dose will be MMR-Varicella (MMRV) or MMR (for children that have previously received a funded monovalent Varicella vaccine at 18 months of age).
- Whilst there is no active recalling of patients for measles vaccinations, 2nd measles doses administered early are government funded and will be accepted as valid doses by the Australian Childhood Immunisation Register (ACIR).
- If you are unsure about your child’s vaccination history or your own immunity, check your immunisation records and/or contact your general practitioner.
- Additional measles vaccine doses for adults require a prescription.
For more information contact the RCH Immunisation Centre on (03) 9345 6599 or 1300 882 924.
Further resources can be found at:
Victorian Department of Health: Measles News release
JABBED documentary re-screening Sunday 13th July at 8:30pm on SBS
JABBED was made by Emmy Award-winning Australian documentary filmmaker Sonya Pemberton, who travelled the globe to look at the real science behind vaccinations, tracks real epidemics, and investigates the real cost of opting out. The film poses the potent question: what would you do to protect the ones you love?
First released in 2013, the JABBED documentary has been one of the most watched shows in the history of SBS television and is re-screening on Sunday July 13th 2014 at 8:30pm.
It includes highlighting the impact of pertussis (‘whooping cough’) on a child and their family, following an admission to The Royal Children’s Hospital Melbourne.