ABS-CBN: Over 3 million kids vaxxed in first week of ‘Chikiting Ligtas’ - DOH
The Philippines Department of Health, with the support of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the World Health Organization (WHO), recently launched ‘Chikiting Ligtas 2023’, a nationwide immunisation catch-up campaign to vaccinate children against measles, rubella and polio.
More than 3 million children have been vaccinated in the campaign’s first week.
Vaccine catch-up was the theme of WHO’s World Immunization Week in April this year. The Philippines has the fifth highest number of zero dose children, children who have not received any routine vaccines, globally.
ABS-CBN: Over 3 million kids vaxxed in first week of ‘Chikiting Ligtas’ - DOH
AAP FactCheck: No evidence of link between vaccine and ovary damage
MVEC director Professor Nigel Crawford spoke to the Australian Associated Press FactCheck team, addressing claims made about the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine, Gardasil®9.
It has been claimed that the HPV vaccine can damage the ovaries and that is has been withdrawn from use in the United States. AAP FactCheck deemed this claim false.
Prof Crawford confirmed there is no evidence to support the claim that the HPV vaccine causes damage to the ovaries. The claim stems from a longstanding myth that the vaccine is associated with premature ovarian failure (POF). "The timing of the HPV vaccine around puberty (12-13 years) has led to some of these concerns (about POF) being raised", Prof Crawford said.
Prof Crawford further confirmed there is no evidence to support claims that the HPV vaccine is linked to seizures.
AAP Factcheck: No evidence of link between vaccine and ovary damage
2023-24 Federal Budget: Shingrix to replace Zostavax on NIP
The 2023-24 Federal Budget has allocated $446.7 million to replace Zostaxav with Shingrix, a different zoster (shingles) vaccine, on the National Immunisation Program (NIP).
Shingrix is an inactivated vaccine whereas Zostavax is a live-attenuated vaccine, unsafe for immunosuppressed people. This means people with immunocompromise will now be able to access funded protection against the development of herpes zoster.
Further details regarding which populations will be able to access Shingrix on the NIP have not been announced.
NCIRS: Recording of HPV in 2023 webinar
The National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance (NCIRS) has recently uploaded recordings of presentations from its recent HPV in 2023 webinar, held on 5 May 2023.
Leading researchers presented 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.
NCIRS HPV in 2023 webinar recordings
TGA: Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine SPIKEVAX receives approval for full registration
On 21 April 2023, the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) approved Moderna Australia’s application to transition its original/ancestral strain COVID-19 vaccines from provisional to full registration. This applies only to the formulations used for people aged ≥ 12 years.
It is the first COVID-19 vaccine to receive full registration within Australia.
Moderna’s original/ancestral strain COVID-19 vaccine formulation given to children aged 6 months to ≤ 5 years, and the Moderna SPIKEVAX bivalent vaccines remain provisionally registered only.
TGA: Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine SPIKEVAX receives approval for full registration
For more information about the provision registration of COVID-19 vaccines in Australia, see our reference page.
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.