Expansion of the National Immunisation Program Vaccinations in Pharmacy (NIPVIP) Program
As of 29 April, the NIPVIP program has been expanded to allow pharmacies to claim payment for the administration of National Immunisation Program (NIP) vaccinations in residential aged care and disability homes.
Read more on the Department of Health and Aged Care website
MVEC: Launch of the National Immunisation Program Vaccinations in Pharmacy (NIPVIP) Program (February 2024)
Immunisation Coalition: 2024 COVID-19 webinar
On Tuesday 14 May, the Immunisation Coalition will hold its annual update on COVID-19 in Australia for GPs, immunisation nurses, pharmacists and other immunisation professionals.
The webinar will feature Prof Gary Grohmann as a speaker, and will be moderated by Dr Andrew Minton.
For more details and to register, visit the Immunisation Coalition event page.
ABC: AstraZeneca withdraws COVID-19 vaccine citing a decline in demand
AstraZeneca has commenced a global withdrawal of the COVID-19 vaccine Vaxzevria, which has not been available in Australia since March 2023.
The withdrawal is due to a surplus of available updated vaccines, which has caused a decline in demand for Vaxzevria.
Read more at ABC: AstraZeneca withdraws COVID-19 vaccine citing a decline in demand
एमवीईसी: कोविड-19
MVEC: Thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome (TTS)
Local transmission of mpox in Victoria
On 29 April 2024, the Victorian Department of Health issued an alert regarding local transmission of mpox in Victoria. Three new locally acquired cases have been reported.
Mpox is a viral infection that can lead to severe illness and require hospitalisation. Mpox symptoms can occur up to 21 days after exposure. Anyone who has been in close and usually prolonged intimate contact with someone with mpox is at risk.
Free vaccination is available for those who meet certain eligibility criteria.
Victorian Department of Health Alert: Local transmission of mpox in Victoria
Communicable Diseases & Immunisation Conference 2024
This year’s Communicable Diseases & Immunisation Conference (CDIC) will be held in Brisbane from Tuesday 11 to Thursday 13 June 2024.
This year's conference theme is ‘Protecting Communities: empowering health through Disease Control and Immunisation’.
Earlybird registration closes on Friday 26 April 2024.
Learn more and register on the CDIC website.
Updated immunisation reference page: Translated influenza pages
MVEC has recently published translated versions of our 2024 influenza reference page. The page is available to read in Vietnamese, Hindi and Simplified Chinese.
The reference page details recommendations for flu vaccination in 2024, including:
- influenza strains included in this year’s vaccines
- brands available by age and funding
- commonly asked questions.
Switch between languages using the dropdown box on the page: एमवीईसी: इन्फ्लुएंजा
Reminder: Victorian regional immunisation providers have the chance to win free registration for the upcoming CVU mini!
MVEC is offering regional immunisation providers from Victoria the opportunity to win free registration for the 21 June CVU mini on RSV preventative therapies – competition closes Monday 29 April 2024.
Complete this छोटा सर्वेक्षण to go in the running.
Learn more about the CVU mini on our event page.
New reference page: West Metro Health Services Partnership campaign
MVEC has recently published a new immunisation reference page, hosting the West Metro Health Services Partnership’s (WMHSP) campaign on COVID-19 and influenza vaccination advice for people with low vaccination rates.
The page includes advice provided by doctors at the Royal Melbourne Hospital, the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre and the Royal Children’s Hospital.
WMHSP: COVID-19 and influenza vaccination advice for people with low vaccination rates
Immunisation Coalition: 2024 Annual Immunisation Forum
The मैंmmunisation Coalition will be hosting their 8th Annual Immunisation Forum on 14 June 2024 in Brisbane.
The free, full-day event for immunisation specialists can be attended in person or via Zoom. The event will explore topics such as aged care, new vaccines for older people, adjuvanted vaccines, vaccinations in primary care and pharmacy, managing vaccine hesitancy and targeting at-risk populations.
Learn more and register on the event page:
Immunisation Coalition: 2024 Annual Immunisation Forum
WHO: Nigeria begins rollout of new Men5CV vaccine
Nigeria is the first country in the world to roll out the new Men5CV vaccine. Men5CV protects recipients against five strains of the Neisseria meningitidis bacteria (A, C, W, Y and X).
Nigeria is one of the 26 meningitis-endemic countries of Africa, in the area known as the Meningitis Belt. Between 1 October 2023 and 11 March 2024, Nigeria reported 1,742 suspected meningococcal C cases, including 101 confirmed cases and 153 deaths.
The vaccination campaign aims to reach more than one million people aged 1 to 29 years.
WHO: In world first, Nigeria introduces new 5-in-1 vaccine against meningitis