Updated reference page: Development and registration of vaccines
Vaccines, like any medication in development, must undergo rigorous testing procedures and scientific evaluation to prove not only their effect on the targeted disease, but also to determine their safety, before being licensed and registered for use in vaccination programs.
Our newly updated Vaccine development and registration page includes information about vaccine clinical trials, post-licensure surveillance, registration and provisional approval, as well as health economics assessments of vaccines.
Updated MVEC: Development and registration of vaccines
All Spikevax (Moderna) COVID-19 vaccines for children 6 months-5 years have now expired
As of May 3 2023, all stock of original/ancestral strain of Spikevax (Moderna) specific for children aged 6 months to 5 years has expired. Any remaining stock should not be administered and should be disposed of according to your state or territory’s requirements.
We have updated our guidelines to provide recommendations for children who have commenced their primary course with 1 dose of Spikevax and require further doses to complete their course.
- Immune competent children can complete their primary course with 1 dose of age-appropriate Comirnaty (Pfizer) only.
- Severely immunocompromised children who received 1 dose of Spikevax should receive a further 2 doses of Comirnaty 8 weeks apart to complete their primary course.
- Severely immunocompromised children who received 2 doses of Spikevax should receive 1 further dose of Comirnaty 8 weeks later to complete their primary course.
Please note, vaccination is only recommended in this age group for children with severe immunocompromise, disability or a complex medical condition that places them at a higher risk of severe COVID-19 disease.
Find complete recommendations for children aged 6 months to 5 years on MVEC: COVID-19 vaccination in children and adolescents.
Updated immunisation reference page: Immunosuppression and vaccines
Immunosuppression refers to a person’s immune system being weakened, resulting in a decreased ability to fight infections. It can be caused by certain medical conditions or by taking specific medications.
Vaccination is particularly important in the setting of immunosuppression as individuals are at an increased risk of developing severe symptoms if exposed to vaccine-preventable diseases. Protection from vaccines can be suboptimal in this patient group and therefore additional doses of vaccines may be recommended. Conversely, some vaccines (live-attenuated vaccines) may be contraindicated due to the potential risk of vaccine-related disease.
We have recently updated our immunosuppression and vaccines reference page to incorporate information specific to COVID-19 immunisation which was previously detailed on a separate page. Information on vaccination timing, recommended vaccines, contraindicated vaccines, and considerations for immunosuppressed breastfeeding mothers and household contacts of immunosuppressed individuals is also included.
Updated MVEC: Immunosuppression and vaccines
Updated immunisation reference page: Zoster (herpes zoster)
Herpes zoster (shingles) is a painful, vesicular rash that usually presents on one side of the face or body typically appearing in a dermatomal distribution (an area of skin supplied by a spinal nerve). It is caused by a reactivation of the varicella zoster virus (VZV), the same virus that causes varicella (chickenpox) infection
Our recently updated immunisation reference page includes information on the signs and symptoms of zoster, disease transmission and the vaccines available for the prevention of zoster and its complications.
To read more follow the link below:
Updated immunisation reference page: Vaccine platforms
A vaccine platform is the term used to describe the technology utilised to manufacture vaccines.
Whilst there are many different types of vaccine platforms, all aim to activate an individual’s immune system to form antibodies and memory cells against specific pathogens (disease causing organism), without the individual experiencing the disease. This means that if or when that pathogen is encountered in the future, the immune system will be able to respond effectively, either minimising the symptoms experienced or preventing disease altogether.
Our recently updated immunisation reference page explores the most common approaches to vaccine manufacture and explains inactivated, live-attenuated and genetic vaccines. It also discusses newer approaches such as nanoparticle-based vaccines.
To read more, head to the link below:
Updated immunisation reference page: Influenza
We have recently updated our Influenza reference page in accordance with 2023 vaccine recommendations.
The reference page includes up-to-date vaccine brand and dosing advice, information about eligibility for funded doses under the National Immunisation Program and a helpful commonly asked questions guide.
To view the updated page in full, follow the link below:
Updated immunisation reference page: Japanese encephalitis
The Victorian Department of Health has recently extended its list of high-risk local government areas, increasing eligibility criteria for Japanese encephalitis vaccination. As a result, MVEC’s reference page on Japanese encephalitis has been updated.
Vaccination is now recommended for individuals aged ≥ 2 months who live in the local government areas of Campaspe, Gannawarra, Greater Shepparton, Indigo, Loddon, Mildura, Moira, Swan Hill, Wodonga, Towong, Benalla, Wangaratta, Strathbogie, Buloke, Greater Bendigo, Hindmarsh, Horsham, Northern Grampians, West Wimmera and Yarriambiak who:
- regularly spend time outdoors engaging in activities that place them at risk of mosquito bites
- are experiencing homelessness or are living in conditions with limited mosquito protection (such as tents or exposed dwellings)
- are engaged in outdoor flood recovery efforts (this also applies to individuals from other areas who are deployed as part of flood recovery efforts).
To view the updated page in full, refer to the link below:
Updated immunisation reference page: Human papillomavirus
Our human papillomavirus (HPV) reference page has been updated to reflect the National Immunisation Program (NIP) recently moving to a single dose of vaccine only for immune competent individuals 25 years of age and under. Immunocompromised individuals of any age and anyone 26 years of age and over continue to be recommended 3 doses for optimal protection.
HPV is a double stranded DNA virus that can infect both men and women. It can affect a person’s anogenital or respiratory tract. There are more than 100 known sub-types of HPV, with 40 of them affecting the anogenital region.
Vaccination against HPV is ideally provided prior to sexual activity to protect against the development of lesions such as genital warts, cutaneous warts and respiratory papillomatosis, as well as various cancers of the cervix, vulva, vagina, penis, anus, oral cavity and oropharynx.
HPV vaccination is currently provided to all school aged adolescents in year 7, with a funded catch-up program available up to the age of 26 years.
For more information refer to MVEC: Human papillomavirus
New immunisation reference page: COVID-19
COVID-19 is a disease caused by the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2. Coronaviruses can cause a range of illnesses, from mild respiratory infections to more serious disease affecting multiple organs and systems. SARS-CoV-2 is a highly contagious strain of coronavirus discovered in 2019. It is a strain that had not been previously detected in humans that spread rapidly, resulting in a global pandemic.
COVID-19 disease can be asymptomatic, cause mild to moderate symptoms or can progress to severe illness in over 10% of people, requiring hospitalisation and mechanical ventilation, or even death. Even when infections are asymptomatic; individuals can still transmit disease to other people.
Tens of millions of people have been infected with COVID-19 globally and millions have died. The virus has had vast impacts on society, not only from a public health perspective, but the economic, social and mental health effects have been and continue to be, enormous.
Vaccination against COVID-19 disease aims to reduce the severity of symptoms and need for hospitalisations. Recommendations are based on an individual’s level of risk of severe disease.
Our new COVID-19 reference page brings together information from across our website on COVID-19 disease, vaccine recommendations and vaccine side effects.
To view the page in full, refer to the link below:
Updated immunisation reference page: Meningococcal
Meningococcal disease constitutes any illness caused by the bacteria Neisseria meningitidis. There are 13 known sub-types (serogroups) and of these, 5 are currently vaccine preventable (B and A, C, W, Y).
Invasive meningococcal disease (IMD) can cause meningitis (inflammation of the membrane covering the brain and spinal cord) and septicaemia (infection in the blood), as well as other infections like pneumonia (lung infection), arthritis (inflammation of the joints) and conjunctivitis (eye infection). Mortality (death) can be as high as 5-10% with permanent lifelong complications occurring in 10-20% of those who survive.
Individuals with specified medical conditions that increase the risk of IMD are recommended and funded to receive additional meningococcal vaccines and booster doses.
Our immunisation reference page has recently been updated to include:
- updated MenACWY vaccine recommendations for high-risk individuals
- updated MenB vaccine recommendations for high-risk individuals.
To view the updated page in full, refer to the link below: