Vaccine safety and adverse events following immunisation: a practical approach

The National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance (NCIRS) is hosting a webinar on September 19 to provide an overview of common expected and rarer serious adverse reactions following immunisation and their management. For information on how to register please refer to the following:

NCIRS Seminar series: Vaccine safety and adverse events following immunisation


When "ah-choo" Turns to the Flu

When "ah-choo" Turns to the Flu is a selection of case studies published online via How to treat. Exploring some of the more unusual manifestations of the flu, it highlights the importance of considering influenza immunisation in paediatric populations.


Victorian Immunisation Schedule App

Changes to the Childhood National Immunisation Program (NIP) from 1st July 2018 is now available on Vicvax, the Victorian Immunisation Schedule application. Make sure you download the app now. 

Are you on target?

Utilising a correct injection technique is of vital importance when providing immunisations to patients in order to optimise the immune response and to minimise side effects. To ensure that your technique is on target please refer to our MVEC reference page for further information:

Administration of injected vaccines- correct technique


It's not too late to have your flu vaccine!

This year there has been an unprecedented demand for the influenza vaccine resulting in periodic shortages. The vaccine is now back in supply across all age groups for both the Victorian state funded program (six months to less than 5 years), as well as the National Immunisation Program. Influenza immunisation is strongly recommended for anyone wishing to be protected against influenza disease and it's complications.

For further information please refer to our MVEC pages:

Influenza vaccine recommendations 

Influenza vaccine recommendations- FAQs 

Free Influenza vaccine in 2018 for children aged 6 months to less than 5 years


National Immunisation Program (NIP) schedule changes - 1 July 2018

From 1 July 2018, there will be significant changes to the National Immunisation Program (NIP) schedule and we are keen to ensure you have access to the information you need to implement the new schedule.

Changes to the childhood immunisation schedule aim to improve protection against meningococcal, pneumococcal and Haemophilus influenzae type b diseases.

In addition, maternal pertussis (dTpa) vaccination for pregnant women has been listed on the NIP to guarantee its ongoing access and availability.

From 1 July 2018, the NIP childhood schedule will be updated so that:

  • at 12 months of age, children will receive a meningococcal ACWY vaccine (replacing meningococcal C vaccination);
  • at 18 months of age, children will receive the booster Hib vaccine dose, protecting against Haemophilus इन्फ्लुएंजा type B (previously given as a combined vaccine with meningococcal C at 12 months); and
  • at 2, 4 and 12 months of age, children will receive a pneumococcal vaccine (instead of at 2, 4 and 6 months).

Note that at risk children and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children living in Queensland, the Northern Territory, South Australia and Western Australia will continue to receive 4 doses, at 2, 4, 6 and 12 months of age.

Educational and promotional communication resources for vaccination providers and consumers to support awareness of the schedule changes are now available.

Hardcopy materials, accompanied by correspondence from the Chief Medical Officer, have been mailed to vaccination providers around the country. The resources are also available for download or order online through the Department of Health website health.gov.au/immunisation.

To assist we encourage you to:

  • learn about the new schedule so that you are able to explain the changes and administer the new schedule correctly.
  • promote the new schedule by displaying the program posters and materials in clinics.
  • administer the dTpa vaccine to pregnant women. You can administer the vaccine to pregnant women early in the third trimester as soon as it is available to you.
  • continue to promote free influenza vaccines to pregnant women. Promotional materials for influenza vaccination are also available through the Department of Health’s website gov.au/immunisation.
  • report vaccinations to the Australian Immunisation Register (AIR). Make sure you report all vaccinations to the AIR. Adult vaccines can be recorded along with child vaccines in the AIR.

 


ASID Annual Scientific Meeting 2018

The Annual Scientific Meeting for The Australasian Society for Infectious Diseases (ASID) was recently held on the Gold Coast in May 2018. AEFI-CAN & AusVaxSafety ran an Adult Immunisation Satellite Workshop entitled ‘Vaccination Is Not Just For Kids’: What Infectious Disease Physicians Need To Know. Fantastic presentations from this workshop are now available:

For further information on influenza please view our Influenza vaccine recommendations page.


Free Influenza vaccine in 2018 for children aged 6 months to less than 5 years

In Victoria in 2018 the Influenza vaccine will be provided FREE for सभी children aged 6 months to less than 5 years of age. For further information and how to access the vaccine please head to our MVEC Free Influenza vaccine for children in 2018 संदर्भ पृष्ठ


Thinking about getting your child the Influenza vaccine?

With the roll out of the 2018 Influenza vaccine the following article may help provide some clarification regarding immunising children

The Conversation: thinking about getting your child the flu vaccine?

For further information regarding the Influenza vaccine please refer to our page एमवीईसी: इन्फ्लुएंजा वैक्सीन सिफारिशें


Menveo® (Meningococcal A, C, W, Y) vaccine shortage

GSK has announced that there is a current shortage in the supply of Menveo® vaccine for the remainder of 2018. Refer to the TGA announcement for further information. For alternate Meningococcal immunisation options please see our एमवीईसी: मेनिंगोकोकल रोग और टीके page