Pharmacy Daily: Pharmacists are ready for flu season
As influenza vaccinations start to roll out nationwide and the Australian community is being urged to get their shots, pharmacists are being reminded of the critical role they play.
Read the full article at Pharmacy Daily: Pharmacists are ready for flu season.
Learn more about influenza prevention in 2026 at MVEC: Cúm.
Victorian Department of Health: Expanded access to the Japanese encephalitis vaccine for people visiting high-risk areas
Eligibility to receive a free Japanese encephalitis (JE) vaccine has been temporarily expanded until 30 June 2026 to include people who plan to visit high-risk local government areas in Victoria for outdoor recreation.
Spread to humans through mosquito bites, JE is a leading cause of vaccine-preventable encephalitis (brain inflammation) in Asia and the Western Pacific.
Read the Department’s full health advisory on expanded access at Expanded access to the Japanese encephalitis vaccine for people visiting high-risk areas.
To learn more about JE disease and prevention, visit MVEC: Viêm não Nhật Bản.
ABC: How boosting vaccinations could prevent meningitis outbreak in Australia
As the UK responds to a growing meningococcal B outbreak which has caused 2 deaths, ABC explores prevention and treatment in Australia.
Meningococcal disease can be caused by infection with any subtypes of the bacteria Neisseria meningitidis. Of the 13 known subtypes, 5 are vaccine-preventable: A, C, W, Y and B. MVEC strongly recommends everyone wishing to be protected against ACWY and B strains of meningococcal disease be immunised.
For more information on meningococcal, visit MVEC: Viêm não mô cầu.
Read the full ABC article at ABC: How boosting vaccinations could prevent meningitis outbreak in Australia.
The Guardian: FDA reverses course and will review Moderna’s mRNA-based flu vaccine
Following backlash after it initially refused to review Moderna’s mRNA influenza vaccine, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will now review the vaccine.
Moderna submitted an application for the FDA to approve the new product in December 2025. Other countries, including Australia, accepted the vaccine for review. The FDA’s initial refusal to review the vaccine sparked concerns about the influence of the current administration.
Read the full article at The Guardian: FDA reverses course and will review Moderna’s mRNA-based flu vaccine.
ABC: Parents fail to return consent forms as Far North Queensland HPV vaccination rate drops
Queensland’s HPV vaccination rates have declined since 2019. Public health experts are concerned about particularly low vaccination rates in some areas, pointing to systemic issues causing students to miss vaccines.
Read the article in full at ABC: Parents fail to return consent forms as Far North Queensland HPV vaccination rate drops.
Read more about human papillomavirus at MVEC: HPV.
Victorian Department of Health: Ongoing measles alert
The health alert for increased travel-related measles cases in Victoria remains open. The health alert includes a list of public exposure sites and details about the current risk of measles. Measles cases have also been reported in other jurisdictions (including NSW, Qld, SA Và WA).
Read Victoria’s measles alert in full at Increased travel-related measles cases in Victoria.
Vaccination is the best way to protect yourself and others against measles. Read more about measles disease, transmission, epidemiology and prevention at MVEC: Sởi.
Australian CDC: Nipah Virus Infection Situation Update
On 9 February the Australian Centre for Disease Control (CDC) published its latest situation update on Nipah virus infection in West Bengal, India and Rajshahi, Bangladesh. The report includes details about the current situation and its relevance to Australia, and details about Nipah virus epidemiology.
Read the full report here: Australian CDC Situation update: Nipah virus infection in West Bengal, India and Rajshahi, Bangladesh
Victorian Department of Health: Nurse immunisers approved to administer MMR vaccines to infants from 6 months of age
Victoria’s Chief Health Officer has approved Nurse TÔImmunser-led administration of measles-containing vaccines to infants from 6 months of age who are travelling overseas. This authorisation là in accordance with ATAGI recommendations.
Victorian Department of Health: Nurse immunisers – approved client groups
The Guardian: UK loses WHO status as measles-free after rise in deaths and fall in jab uptake
The UK has lost its measles-free status due to a rise in the number of recorded cases, outbreaks and deaths. In recent years, uptake of the MMR vaccine has been diminishing.
Other European countries that have lost their measles-free status include Armenia, Azerbaijan, Spain and Uzbekistan.
This follows Canada losing its measles-free status in November 2025.
The Guardian: UK loses WHO status as measles-free after rise in deaths and fall in jab uptake
For more information about measles disease, epidemiology and prevention, go to MVEC: Sởi.
SBS: The 'Super-K' flu variant is spreading in Australia. Here's what makes it 'unusual'
A new strain of influenza could be responsible for an unusual spring and summer boost in flu cases. According to epidemiologists, there is no current evidence that this variant is more severe, but that it is easily transmitted.
Read the full article at SBS: The 'Super-K' flu variant is spreading in Australia. Here's what makes it 'unusual'.
For more information about influenza disease, epidemiology and prevention, visit MVEC: Cúm.