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.
Rotarix® dosing administration wheel - discrepancy in date estimates
Errors in date estimates have been reported when administering Rotarix® vaccines based upon the GSK dosing wheel.
It is important to be aware that there has been no impact on the quality, safety or effectiveness of Rotarix® vaccines and these should continue to be provided to patients as per National Immunisation Program (NIP) recommendations. A 2 dose course is recommended for infants, noting that the first dose of Rotarix® should be administered between 6-14 weeks of age (before turning 15 weeks of age) and the second dose between 10-24 weeks of age (before turning 25 weeks).
GSK have recommended that providers stop using the administration wheel to calculate due dates, discard any copies in their possession and revert to manual calculation of due dates. An updated version of the wheel will be created in 2023.
Updated immunisation reference page: Mpox
Mpox (monkeypox) is a viral zoonosis (an infection spread from animals to humans) caused by a virus that belongs to the Orthopoxvirus genus (which also causes the variola virus responsible for smallpox disease and the vaccinia virus, which is used in smallpox vaccines). Since the eradication of smallpox in 1980, mpox has become the most important orthopoxvirus affecting humans, however, causes less severe disease than smallpox.
Increasing numbers of Mpox have been reported globally over the last 2 years, with 141 confirmed or probable cases identified in Australia as of November 2022. Vaccination is currently recommended for individuals identified at highest risk of exposure and severe disease.
Our immunisation reference page has recently been updated to include:
- intradermal administration recommendations
- changes in terminology for pre-exposure and post-exposure prophylaxis.
To view the updated page in full, refer to the link below:
VicSIS services have been discontinued
The Victorian Specialist Immunisation Services (VicSIS) network was established in 2021 to help support the COVID-19 vaccine rollout in Victoria. It was coordinated and funded by the Victorian Department of Health (DH) with clinical support provided by SAEFVIC (the Victorian vaccine safety service).
VicSIS provided specialist vaccination services for adults and children who had experienced an adverse event following immunisation (AEFI) with a COVID-19 vaccine, or for those who were identified as at-risk of experiencing an AEFI.
From January 31, 2023 VicSIS services were discontinued. Patients who have experienced an AEFI following vaccination with a COVID-19 vaccine, are encouraged to speak to their local health provider for further advice or contact SAEFVIC.
Join the waitlist for our March Immunisation Skills Workshop!
Places in our March Immunisation Skills Workshop have been filled in record time! However, if you should like to join the waitlist please let us know via email at [email protected] .
The Immunisation Skills Workshop will be held on Monday, March 20th. This full day interactive, face to face workshop is MVEC’s newest education opportunity designed to educate and upskill accredited immunisation providers on the principles and processes of managing:
- effective vaccine communication
- error prevention and management
- anaphylaxis and acute stress responses.
In the workshop attendees will hear from immunisation experts and be able to put their learnings into practice through participation in simulated scenarios.
The workshop is not a graded assessment but will account for up to 10 nursing CPD hours and up to 20 points of CPD for pharmacist immunisers (including preparation and reading time).
Venue: The HELP Precinct, The Royal Children’s Hospital, 50 Flemington Road, Parkville
Time: 8:30am – 4:30pm
Cost: $290.00 (including catering)
Updated Myocarditis, pericarditis and COVID-19 vaccines animation
MVEC’s Myocarditis, pericarditis and COVID-19 vaccines animation has been updated following the most recent changes to the guidance on myocarditis and pericarditis associated with COVID-19 vaccination.
This update reflects ATAGI’s recent advice which has identified that all of the COVID-19 vaccines available within Australia (including non-mRNA COVID-19 vaccines) carry a small increased risk of myocarditis or pericarditis occurring following vaccination.
To view the updated animation, follow the link below to our reference page:
MVEC: Myocarditis and pericarditis following COVID-19 vaccines
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!
Save the date for our next Immunisation Skills Workshop on 20th March 2023!
Following the success of our first Immunisation Skills Workshop, MVEC are pleased to announce the date for our next workshop taking place on Monday, 20th March 2023.
This full day interactive, face to face workshop is MVEC’s newest education opportunity designed to educate and upskill accredited immunisation providers on the principles and processes of managing:
- effective vaccine communication
- error prevention and management
- anaphylaxis and acute stress responses.
In the workshop, attendees will hear from immunisation experts and be able to put their learnings into practice through participation in simulated scenarios.
The workshop is not a graded assessment but will account for up to 10 nursing CPD hours and up to 20 points of CPD for pharmacist immunisers (including preparation and reading time).
Venue: The HELP Precinct, The Royal Children’s Hospital, 50 Flemington Road, Parkville
Time: 8:30am – 4:30pm
Cost: $290.00 (including catering)
Registrations will open to the public January 16th, 2023 via our events page.
Updated immunisation reference page: Vaccine administration
Most vaccines available for use in Australia are administered via intramuscular or subcutaneous route, with several being administered intradermally or orally. Administering vaccines via the recommended route and using correct technique is of paramount importance to ensure optimal immune response, minimise side effects and reduce the risk of injury to the patient.
Our Administration of injected vaccines – correct technique reference page has recently been updated and renamed Vaccine administration to include information on injectable and oral routes of vaccine administration. The Vaccine administration page also incorporates information previously found on the Intradermal immunisation reference page.
To view the updated page in full, follow the link below:
Updated immunisation reference page: Measles
Measles is a highly contagious illness caused by the measles virus of the Morbillivirus family.
Infection is characterised by 3-4 days of fever, malaise, cough, coryza and conjunctivitis. A maculopapular rash then develops lasting up to 7 days. Complications of measles infections can include pneumonia, otitis media and encephalitis, which carries a mortality rate of 10-15%.
Sub-acute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE) is a rare progressive neurological disorder that can develop 2-10 years after an initial measles infection and is fatal in all cases.
Our measles reference page has recently been updated to include information on measles prevention, precautions and contraindications to vaccination and post-exposure prophylaxis.
To view the updated page, refer to the link below: