Needle phobia reference page
We have created a new immunisation reference page with information and resources to assist in the immunisation of those experiencing needle phobias. Please refer to our Needle Phobia page for further information.
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
New vaccine hesitancy resources
MVEC has created an immunisation reference page with reliable information for those hesitant about the immunisation process. Please refer to the following LINK for more information
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
Catch up immunisations- helpful resources
To assist with providing catch up immunisations, MVEC has created a reference page with links to the SA Health immunisation calculator for patients <10 years and an easy to read table for patients >10 years from the DoH.
This page can be accessed via the following link Catch up immunisations
Injection site reactions- what to do
A new immunisation reference page has been created regarding injection site reactions. Please click on the link for more information Injection site reactions
Preterm infant immunisation recommendations
Preterm infants are at greater risk of vaccine preventable diseases and their complications and as a result, extra vaccines may be recommended.
For more information please refer to our new reference page Preterm infant immunisation
Influenza recommendations for 2016
Please head to our immunisation references page for information on MVEC's 2016 Influenza vaccine recommendations.
Influenza Vaccine Recommendations 2016
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.