New immunisation reference page: Live-attenuated vaccines in patients receiving regular red blood cell transfusions
Patients receiving regular red blood cell transfusions to treat chronic medical conditions such as transfusion dependent thalassaemia, sickle cell disease, inherited chronic haemolytic anaemias, or inherited bone marrow failure syndromes are often left unprotected from vaccine preventable diseases due to not meeting the required intervals between red blood cell transfusions. Evidence in this space is limited, however specialist advice suggests that immunisation of this patient group with live-attenuated vaccines is safe and recommended. As such, MVEC has created a new reference page outlining the process of immunisation for these patients. Please refer to MVEC: Live-attenuated vaccines in patients receiving regular red blood cell transfusions for more information.
The International Coalition of Medicines Regulatory Authorities (ICMRA) statement about confidence in vaccine safety and effectiveness
In a global effort to promote confidence in the safety of vaccines, the International Coalition of Medicines Regulatory Authorities (ICMRA) have released new documentation explaining the scientific evaluation process undertaken by vaccine candidates prior to licensing, as well as discussing the ongoing safety surveillance that continues after they have been approved for use. These documents are targeted for both health care professionals as well as consumers.
Read more here:
ICMRA statement about confidence in vaccine safety and effectiveness (for healthcare professionals)
ICMRA statement about confidence in vaccines (for the general public)
Zostavax safety advisory
The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) have reiterated their advice that Zostavax should not be administered to immunocompromised individuals as it is associated with a risk of mild-serious complications. This advice follows a report of a new case of a patient who was taking hydroxychloroquine and a low dose of prednisolone who died three weeks after receiving the Zostavax vaccine. Whilst it was found that the Zostavax was administered in line with existing recommendations it is important that health professionals are aware of the potential of this kind of very rare adverse event.
Read more here:
And for more information on Zoster and to access the Zostavax GP Decision Aid refer to the MVEC: Zoster immunisation reference page.
COVID19 Road to a vaccine episode 7: Professor Norman Baylor
In episode 7 of our COVID19 Road to a vaccine series, our host, Associate Professor Nigel Crawford speaks with Professor Norman Baylor. Professor Baylor is the former Director of the Office of Vaccines Research and Review Center at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and is the President and CEO of Biologics Consulting and current advisor to the WHO.
In this episode they discuss:
- The important role of regulatory authorities in the development and release of new vaccines
- Emergency Use Authorisations (EUA) and their use
- Compressed timelines in the development of SARS-CoV-2 vaccines
- Requirements of regulatory bodies in the development of vaccines
- Opportunities for collaboration/”work-sharing” between the national regulatory bodies (FDA, EMA and TGA)
- The role of regulatory bodies in vaccine safety
Links:
- WHO draft landscape of COVID-19 candidate vaccines
- Biologics Consulting
- FDA cautions against use of hydroxychloroquine for COVID-19
- FDA: Vaccines
- WHO: Vaccine regulation
- TGA: Vaccines overview
Download the episode at:
National immunisation catch-up calculator v1.0 now available
The Australian Government Department of Health have released the first version of the National Immunisation Catch-up Calculator (NICC). It is available on the Australian Immunisation Handbook website and replaces the immunisation calculator hosted by the South Australian Department of Health.
You can access the NICC here:
National Immunisation Catch-up Calculator
1 July 2020 - Changes to the NIP
From today, there are changes to the National Immunisation Program (NIP) designed to improve protection against meningococcal and pneumococcal disease.
You can read more about these changes here:
You can view the updated Victorian Immunisation Schedule here:
Immunisation schedule Victoria
We have updated the following pages to reflect these changes:
- MVEC: Asplenia
- MVEC: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander immunisation recommendations
- MVEC: Meningococcal disease and vaccines
- MVEC: Meningococcal vaccines in special risk and immunosuppressed patients
- MVEC: Recommended additional vaccines for purchase up to 20 years of age (unfunded)
- MVEC: Children with cardiac disease
- MVEC: Preterm infant immunisation
MVEC immunisation reference page updates reflecting NIP changes 1 July 2020
We have updated the following MVEC immunisation reference pages to reflect the changes to the National Immunisation Program (NIP) as of 1 July 2020:
- MVEC: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander immunisation recommendations
- MVEC: Asplenia
- MVEC: Children with cardiac disease
- MVEC: Meningococcal disease and vaccines
- MVEC: Meningococcal vaccines in special risk and immunosuppressed patients
- MVEC: Preterm infant immunisation
- MVEC: Recommended additional vaccines for purchase up to 20 years of age (unfunded)
Researchers at RCH show no association in vaccine uptake as a result of mandatory vaccination policies
Researchers from the Royal Children's Hospital in Melbourne's Specialist Immunisation Clinic and Drop in Centre have demonstrated mandatory immunisation policies 'No Jab, No Pay' and 'No Jab, No Play' show no association in vaccine uptake. Whilst the policies motivated attendance to a tertiary service, they don't appear to be changing vaccination behaviour as was the intention, with further evaluation required.
Read more here:
COVID19 Road to a vaccine episode 6: Professor Paul Offit
In episode 6 of our COVID19 Road to a vaccine series, our host, Associate Professor Nigel Crawford, speaks to Professor Paul Offit. Professor Offit is an infectious diseases physician and Director of the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHoP) Vaccine Education Center (VEC). The VEC website inspired the creation of the Melbourne Vaccine Education Centre, the host of this podcast series.
In this episode they discuss:
- The impact of SARS-CoV-2 on health care workers and the importance of a vaccine
- Preventative therapies and randomised controlled trials in a pandemic, specifically the use of hydroxychloroquine for COVID-19 and the other trials involving health care workers
- COVID-19 in children - do they play a role in transmission? Will they be a target for vaccine studies?
- Paediatric Inflammatory Multisystem Syndrome (PIMS) - how can we factor this emerging condition into safety planning?
Links:
- New York Times: We know crowding affects the spread. It may affect the death rate.
- New York Times: Re-thinking COVID-19 in children
- Vaccine Education Center
- MVEC: Clinical trial of BCG vaccine against COVID-19
- Paul Offit: Deadly Choices
- Paul Offit: The Cutter Incident
You can listen to this episode here:
NCIRS webinar - NIP changes, what you need to know
On the 1st July 2020 important changes to the National Immunisation Program (NIP) and recommendations for pneumococcal, meningococcal and Hepatitis A vaccinations will come into effect.
NCIRS hosted a webinar about these changes which is now available to view online:
NCIRS: Upcoming NIP changes: what you need to know