2019 Influenza vaccine recommendations
For information on influenza immunisation for the 2019 season, including age specific brands, dosing guidelines and advice for at risk groups, please refer to:
MVEC: Influenza vaccine recommendations
Influenza and pertussis vaccination in pregnancy
Antenatal immunisation with Influenza and pertussis (whooping cough) vaccines are strongly recommended in every pregnancy to protect both the mother and baby from disease and its complications. Evidence around the timing of pertussis immunisation in pregnancy has recently been reviewed and it is now recommended that a pertussis containing vaccine be administered between 20 and 32 weeks of the pregnancy. Immunisation is provided free to all pregnant women through the National Immunisation Program.
For further information about maternal vaccination recommendations visit our reference page MVEC: Maternal vaccination during pregnancy
Updated resources for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients
An updated immunisation reference page is now online for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. This new page also details the latest recommendations for meningococcal immunisation in this population group. From 2019 Influenza vaccination will be funded for all people from 6-months of age. To view the page please follow the link below:
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander immunisation recommendations
Updated maternal immunisation resources
Monash Health immunisation have recently updated their patient information brochures regarding Influenza and Pertussis vaccination during pregnancy. Please find these updated resources via our reference page below:
Maternal vaccination during pregnancy
Spleen Australia- updated guidelines 2019
Spleen Australia have recently updated their medical recommendations for asplenic/hyposplenic adults and children. These guidelines also detail additional immunisation recommendations, including updated information on booster doses for pneumococcal and meningococcal vaccines in this patient group.
Please refer to our MVEC page for more information MVEC: Asplenia
New meningococcal resources
The Australian Academy of Science has released a new video detailing the devastating impact of meningococcal disease.
To access this video, as well as other meningococcal information, please follow the link below:
MVEC: Meningococcal disease and vaccines
Updated hepatitis B reference page
We have recently updated our hepatitis B reference page to incorporate the latest recommendations for serological testing, patients with impaired renal function as well as a new pathway for non-responders to the routine hepatitis B vaccine course. Please access the page below via the following link:
Menactra® and Prevenar 13® co-administration
Menactra® should not be administered on the same day as Prevenar 13®. Studies have shown that co-administration may result in a decreased immune response to some of the pneumococcal serotypes. If both vaccines are required, Prevenar 13® should be administered first followed by Menactra® at least 4 weeks later. If these vaccines are inadvertently administered on the same day, Prevenar 13® should be repeated a minimum of 8 weeks later. Menveo® and Nimenrix® may be co-administered with Prevenar 13®.
For further information please refer to The Australian Immunisation Handbook
What's new on the horizon?
MVEC is often contacted with queries regarding what is new in vaccines and immunisation policy. To access a summary of vaccinology discussions from various National Immunisation Technical Advisory Groups (NiTAGs) please refer to our MVEC reference page:
Horizon scanning: What's new in vaccines and international immunisation policy
NIP July 2018- frequently asked questions
To assist healthcare providers and families with the transition to the new NIP schedule on July 1 2018, MVEC has created a reference page outlining frequently asked questions (FAQ's) adapted from our recent Clinical Vaccinology Update- A Special Edition.
For further information please refer to our following MVEC page:
NIP schedule changes July 1 2018-FAQs