New NCIRS report - Vaccine preventable diseases and vaccination coverage in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People
NCIRS (The National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance) have released two new reports focused on immunisation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
Communicable Diseases Intelligence (CDI) has published Vaccine Preventable Diseases and Vaccination Coverage in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People which is accompanied by a summary report, Vaccination for our Mob.
View both reports यहाँ.
NCIRS are hosting an upcoming webinar – Working together to improve Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander immunisation; on Tuesday 10 December at 1pm. Katrina Clark (NCIRS National Indigenous Immunisation Coordinator) and Patrick Cashman (Hunter New England Health Immunisation Coordinator) will be hosting. Find out more and register to attend the webinar यहाँ.
Samoa makes measles vaccinations compulsory after outbreak kills 32
Samoa has declared a state of emergency over its measles outbreak and a mass immunisation campaign is underway.
According to health authorities in Samoa, the death toll from a measles epidemic has cost the lives of 32 people. Most of the victims were aged under 4, 3 people aged between 10-19 have died and one adult aged in their 30's. The total number of reported measles case has soared to over 2400.
ABC: Samoa makes measles vaccinations compulsory after outbreak kills 32.
New reference page: G6PD and vaccines
G6PD deficiency is a genetic disorder in which the body does not have enough of an enzyme, glucose-6-phosphate-dehydrogenase. If you are G6PD deficient, prevention of infection is important. Read more about G6PD and vaccines on our G6PD reference page.
Why vaccination against polio is important
Studies show measles more dangerous than doctors realised
Two recent studies published by British and American researchers indicate that contracting measles is even more dangerous than doctors had realised, with findings suggesting that the measles virus destroys immunity that the victim has acquired to other diseases.
ABC News: Measles more dangerous than doctors realised, destroying the immune system's memory
It's not too late to get the flu vaccine!
Flu is now a year-round phenomenon, according to Victorian health authorities, after a 10-fold increase in infections in 2019.
The Age: Flu now a risk year-round as horror surge triggers $200 million package
Pharmacist Immunisers - in the media!
Pharmacists and doctors trade jabs over child flu vax
In recent changes announced by Health Minister Jenny Mikakos parents will be able to take their children aged between 10 and 16 to the chemist from April 2020 to get vaccinated against influenza.
The Age: Pharmacists and doctors trade jabs over child flu vax
"Allowing pharmacists to immunise people from 10 years of age gives families another opportunity to access the flu vaccine which may overcome time and geographical barriers. It's a great step forward to ultimately improve coverage across Victoria." Annie Cobbledick - Immunisation Pharmacist, Royal Children's Hospital.
Vaccines have long been available from the GPs and nurses; however, in recent years laws have changed to add pharmacists to the list of health professionals who can give select vaccines without a prescription. However, in states other than Victoria, it might cost you more.
For further information regarding pharmacist immunisers, please refer to our pharmacist immunisers reference page.
Australian Immunisation Handbook updates
The Australian Immunisation Handbook has recently been updated to reflect changes approved by the Chief Medical Officer, Professor Brendan Murphy, on 20th September 2019.
A summary of the updates is available at Updates.
Note: Changes include updates to 19 chapters of the Handbook, and various administrative updates to improve the usability of the Handbook, including updates to hyperlinks throughout the Handbook.
Travelling to a measles endemic country?
For infants travelling to countries experiencing extensive measles transmission, a free dose of MMR vaccine may be given as early as 6 months of age.
For further information, please refer to our updated measles reference page, which also contains a link to the Australian Academy of Science measles information.