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ATAGI: Annual Statement on Immunisation 2025

On 14 October, the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) published its fourth annual statement in immunisation. The statement highlights the key successes, trends and challenges in the use of vaccines and control of vaccine preventable diseases in Australia in 2024, and includes advice to address key issues for 2025.

The report identifies emerging and re-emerging vaccine-preventable diseases of particular concern, including:

• thai kỳ
• mpox
• pertussis (whooping cough).

The report is available to read in full on the Australian Department of Health, Disability and Ageing trang mạng. 

MVEC: Sởi
MVEC: Mpox
MVEC: Pertussis (whooping cough) 

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TGA: AIVC recommendations for the composition of influenza vaccines for Australia in 2026

The Australian Influenza Vaccine Committee (AIVC) met earlier this month to recommend the composition of influenza virus vaccines for use in Australia in 2026.

AIVC recommended the following viruses for vaccines used in Australia for the 2026 southern hemisphere trivalent influenza vaccines:

Egg-based influenza vaccines:

• A/Missouri/11/2025 (H1N1)pdm09-like virus
• A/Singapore/GP20238/2024 (H3N2)-like virus
• B/Austria/1359417/2021 (B/Victoria lineage)-like virus.

Cell-based influenza vaccines:

• A/Missouri/11/2025 (H1N1)pdm09-like virus
• A/Sydney/1359/2024 (H3N2)-like virus
• B/Austria/1359417/2021 (B/Victoria lineage)-like virus.

Read the Therapeutic Goods Administration's (TGA) statement on AIVC’s recommendations in full đây. 

AIVC’s recommendation aligns with the World Health Organization (WHO) recommendations for influenza vaccine composition for the 2026 southern hemisphere influenza season.

There has been no detection of the naturally occurring B/Yamagata-lineage influenza virus since 2020. Therefore, in 2023 the World Health Organization (WHO) influenza vaccine advisory committee expressed the opinion that the inclusion of a B/Yamagata lineage antigen is no longer warranted.

For more information, read WHO Q&A on recommendations for 2024 south hemisphere composition of influenza vaccines.

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Beyond the Noise: Jumping Without a Net

On his substack Beyond the Noise, American paediatrician and vaccinologist Prof Paul Offit examines the possibility of delaying the birth dose of hepatitis B vaccine.

In response to the likelihood that ACIP (the US Advisory Committee on Imunization Practices) will recommend delaying the hepatitis B birth dose, Prof Offit explains the history and rationale of hepatitis B vaccination in America. He emphasises the risks of delaying vaccination.

Read the article in full at Beyond the Noise: Jumping Without a Net

MVEC: Viêm gan B

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Getting more kids vaccinated on time: Strategies and broader policy considerations to address caregiver-identified barriers to childhood immunisation in Australia

A recent article published in Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health explores evidence-based, feasible strategies to improve childhood vaccination coverage. 

The authors propose a multi-sectoral, multi-component approach: improve service access and utilisation; support provider education and advocacy; support parent confidence and engagement with vaccination; and facilitate providers’ access to immunisation data. 

Read the full article here, Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health: Getting more kids vaccinated on time: Strategies and broader policy considerations to address caregiver-identified barriers to childhood immunisation in Australia 

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AAP Fact Check: Debunking vaccine misinformation

Recently the AAP Fact Check team has assessed several vaccine-related claims, debunking myths about: the impact of COVID-19 vaccination in New Zealand; aerosol vaccines in Brisbane; and the benefit of tetanus vaccines.

An article circulating online suggests that New Zealand’s vaccine rollout caused an increase in COVID-19 deaths. The Fact Check team demonstrates that an increase in COVID-19 deaths was related to increased transmission, and that high vaccination rates were estimated to have contributed to 4600 to 9500 lives saved between January 2022 and June 2023.

Read the full article here, AAP Fact Check: No, vaccination wasn't the cause of COVID deaths in NZ

An Instagram post tied images of undulatus cloud formations over Brisbane to myths surrounding the development of a needle-free COVID-19 vaccine. Contrary to the Instagram post’s implication that the new vaccine is being deployed by aircraft, the needle-free vaccine Canadian researchers are developing cannot be administered this way, and would be inhaled through a mouthpiece. According to the Australian Bureau of Meteorology, the clouds are a natural weather phenomenon.

Read the full article here, AAP Fact Check: Claim about aerosol vaccine operation clouds the truth

Another Instagram posts claims that tetanus vaccination provides little benefit, promoting vitamin C as an alternative treatment. The Fact Check team shows that tetanus infections and deaths declined significantly following the introduction on tetanus vaccines. Fact Check systematically addresses the many claims made in the original video, providing evidence for the safety and importance of tetanus vaccination.

Read the full article here, AAP Fact Check: Tetanus vaccine claims shot down by experts

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NCIRS: Final data show suboptimal influenza vaccine coverage in 2025

Các Trung tâm Nghiên cứu và Giám sát Tiêm chủng Quốc gia (NCIRS) has released its final influenza vaccination coverage data for 2025.

The data shows that influenza uptake is suboptimal across all age cohorts. 

• The 50-to-64-years and 65-years-and-older groups had the lowest vaccination rates in six years. 
• The 6-months-to-4-years group had the lowest rates since 2021. 
• The 15-to-49-years and 5-to-14 years groups both recorded slightly higher rates than 2024, but lower than previous years. 

2025 influenza vaccine coverage data is available via the NCIRS website.

For more information on influenza disease and immunisation, go to MVEC: Cúm

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ACIP: US changes to vaccine guidance and recommendations

The American Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) met recently, voting to change MMRV and COVID-19 vaccine guidelines and recommendations, and postponing a vote on proposed changes to hepatitis B vaccination.

The combination measles, mumps, rubella and varicella vaccine (MMRV) is no longer recommended in the US for children under 4 years of age. The COVID-19 vaccine is no longer recommended for all adults in the US; recommendations are now subject to a ‘shared decision-making’ process whereby individuals are advised to weigh up risks and benefits with a healthcare professional.

Via our social media platforms, MVEC has published a shortform explainer (@mvecau on Instagram) on ACIP’s MMRV change and why it shouldn’t impact confidence in Australia’s immunisation program. 

Materials from the 18 to 19 September meeting are not yet fully accessible for all audiences.  

The following articles from US-based publications offer more context on the ACIP meeting:

NPR: CDC advisers punt on hepatitis B vaccine vote, after changing guidance on MMRV
ABC News: Why doctors say the birth dose of the hepatitis B vaccine is still necessary

For more information on the relevant vaccine-preventable diseases, go to:

MVEC: Sởi
MVEC: Varicella
MVEC: COVID-19
MVEC: Viêm gan B

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States offering nasal spray influenza vaccine in 2026

New South Wales, Queensland and South Australia have announced free nasal spray influenza vaccine programs for young children. Already widely used overseas, the FluMist intranasal vaccine is undergoing regulatory approval in Australia ahead of next year’s flu season. 

The state programs will cover children aged between 2 and 5 years. The regular injectable influenza vaccine remains free nationwide for all children aged 6 months to < 5 years. 

Read more on each state program here:
New South Wales: Free nasal spray influenza vaccine for children under five
Queensland: 2026 Queensland Nasal Spray Flu Immunisation Program
South Australia: Needle-free flu vaccine for SA children 

Read more about influenza disease and immunisation at MVEC: Cúm

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NEJM: Clesrovimab for prevention of RSV disease in healthy infants

A recent trial has shown that a single dose of the monoclonal antibody clesrovimab reduced the incidence of RSV-associated lower respiratory infection and RSV-associated hospitalisation in healthy preterm and full-term infants. 

Clesrovimab demonstrated 60% efficacy in reducing medically attended RSV-associated lower respiratory infection and 84% efficacy in reducing RSV-associated hospitalisation. The adverse-event profile of clesrovimab was similar to that of placebo. The authors note that rare serious adverse events may not be detected in a trial of this size (3632 infants). 

Read the paper in full: NEJM: Clesrovimab for prevention of RSV disease in healthy infants

Read more about respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) at MVEC: RSV

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New York Times: The playbook used to ‘prove’ vaccines cause autism

The New York Times recently published an essay written by public health expert and science communicator Dr Jess Steier. Focusing on the work of vaccine critic David Geier, Dr Steier breaks down the “anti-vaccine research playbook” to help people spot flawed science.

Read the article in full at NYT: The playbook used to ‘prove’ vaccines cause autism

Read more on autism and vaccination on MVEC: Autism and immunisation

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