Immunisation Coalition: 2024 Influenza webinar
The Immunisation Coalition will hold its 2024 Influenza webinar on Wednesday 3 April 2024, from 6:00 pm–7:00 pm.
This annual update is intended for GPs, nurse practitioners, pharmacists and other immunisation professionals. The webinar will be presented by Angela Newbound.
Learn more and register on the Immunisation Coalition event page.
AusVaxSafety Summary report 2022 published
Since 2014, AusVaxSafety has monitored the safety of all vaccines on the National Immunisation Program (NIP) and all COVID-19 vaccines used in Australia.
Surveillance is undertaken via a short vaccine safety survey which is sent to people (or their carers) who received their vaccine at a participating AusVaxSafety site across Australia. The surveys give participants the opportunity to report any adverse events following immunisation that they experienced and if they sought medical attention for any reason.
The Vaccine safety in Australia AusVaxSafety Summary report 2022 is now available on the Department of Health and Aged Care website.
Queensland Specialist Immunisation Service: Paediatric Immunisation Skills Workshop
Children’s Health Queensland’s Specialist Immunisation Service is hosting a Paediatric Immunisation Skills Workshop on 3 May 2024.
Topics to be covered include:
- comfort positioning and giving multiple vaccines
- procedural anxiety and distraction techniques
- vaccine hesitancy conversations
- the National Immunisation Program and catching up vaccination
- anaphylaxis, adverse events and reporting.
Read more and register.
NCIRS: New influenza resource
The टीकाकरण अनुसंधान और निगरानी के लिए राष्ट्रीय केंद्र (एनसीआईआरएस) has recently published a new Influenza reference page which includes influenza fact sheets and FAQs, vaccine coverage and safety data, and clinical/community resources.
NCRIS: Influenza immunisation
एमवीईसी: इन्फ्लुएंजा
Immunisation Coalition: 25th Annual Scientific Meeting conference recordings
The Immunisation Coalition’s 25th Annual Scientific Meeting was held from 4 to 5 February 2024.
The meeting was chaired by A/Prof Lou Irving from the Royal Melbourne Hospital and covered topics including Epidemiology of Infectious Diseases, Economics and Long-Term Implications of Vaccines, Primary Care and Vaccination, and Respiratory Virus Vaccines.
The Immunisation Coalition has published all the keynote presentations and sessions on their website. Presentations can be viewed on the Immunisation Coalition’s 25th Annual Scientific Meeting event page.
Immunisation Coalition: Influenza / COVID-19 / RSV webinar series
The Immunisation Coalition is hosting a series of 3 webinars on common vaccine-preventable respiratory viruses over the next three months, to be held on:
- 17 April 2024
- 22 May 2024
- 19 June 2024
These will include parent discussions on how the influenza, COVID-19 and RSV season is progressing and strategies around increasing vaccination rates.
Find out more and register on the Immunisation Coalition event page.
New episodes: The Vaccine Coverage
Today, MVEC released the fourth episode of our new podcast.
The most recent two episodes feature Prof Jim Buttery and Prof Nigel Crawford on the process of rolling out a vaccine, and Dr Linny Kimly Phuong on vaccines and the immune system. The podcast is tailored for an audience of both healthcare professionals and members of the general public.
Search ‘The Vaccine Coverage’ on your preferred podcast player, or listen via our website.
Once you have listened to the episodes, we would be grateful to get some feedback via this छोटा सर्वेक्षण.
Western Australia announces funding for RSV protection
Western Australia has announced that they will roll out a statewide program for long-acting monoclonal antibody Nirsevimab from April 2024. Nirsevimab (available in Australia under the brand name Beyfortus) is indicated for the prevention of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) disease in neonates and infants.
Western Australian children eligible for Nirsevimab include:
- all infants from birth to under 8 months
- infants from 8 months to 19 months at increased risk of severe RSV.
Nirsevimab will be available at birthing hospitals, GP practices, community health clinics and at Aboriginal Medical Services across Western Australia.
There were approximately 128,000 confirmed RSV cases in Australia in 2023, including approximately 65,000 children aged 4 years and under.
For more information, see MVEC: RSV और WA Media Statement on RSV
New immunisation reference page: Specialist immunisation services
MVEC has recently published a new reference page with information about specialist immunisation services available in Victoria.
Specialist immunisation services are hospital-based immunisation clinics led by a team of specialised medical and nursing staff with expertise in vaccines and immunisation.
MVEC’s new page provides information about accessing the Victorian services.
MVEC: Specialist immunisation services
अद्यतित टीकाकरण संदर्भ पृष्ठ: इन्फ्लुएंजा
Influenza virus can cause infections resulting in a spectrum of symptoms, from mild cough and cold features to systemic illnesses with multiple complications. Pregnant women, children under 5 years, those aged over 65 years, people with underlying medical conditions, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples carry the highest rates of morbidity and mortality within Australia. Annual vaccination is recommended for everyone aged 6 months and over.
MVEC has recently updated its influenza reference page to detail the recommendations for vaccination in 2024, including the influenza strains included in this year’s vaccines, the vaccine brands available by age and funding, and commonly asked questions.
एमवीईसी: इन्फ्लुएंजा
(NB: translated versions of the updated influenza reference page will be available soon)