World Polio Day 2021 highlights progress and ongoing commitment to end polio everywhere
There’s been incredible progress in the efforts to eradicate polio everywhere. Currently, 5 out of 6 WHO regions are certified free of wild polio.
Despite the progress, there is still a way to go and although it is rare, cases of wild or vaccine-derived strain can become emergent in polio-free regions, including those countries that have not seen cases of polio for decades.
This demonstrates the importance of ensuring that every child is protected through immunisation. A fully immunised population is protected against both vaccine-derived and wild poliovirus.
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World Polio Day 2021 highlights progress and ongoing commitment to end polio everywhere
TGA approves booster doses of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine, COMIRNATY
The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) has provisionally approved a booster dose of the Pfizer Australia Pty Ltd COVID-19 vaccine, COMIRNATY, for individuals 18 years and older.
The TGA approval means that the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine has been found safe and effective to boost protection for individuals aged 18 years and older through a booster dose provided at least six months after the completion of a COVID-19 vaccine primary course of two doses. The primary course can be of any of the COVID-19 vaccine registered for use in Australia.
Further advice on the use of boosters will be provided to government shortly by the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI).
To read the statement in full, please click on the link below:
TGA approves booster doses of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine, COMIRNATY
Raising Children Network - new COVID-19 vaccination resource for teenagers
MVEC has partnered with the 育儿网 to develop a new resource focused on providing COVID-19 vaccine recommendations for immunising teenagers, 12 years and over.
This article addresses key factors for immunising teens, including doses, safety, efficacy, side effects and how to cope with needle phobia.
To view this article follow the link below:
COVID-19 vaccination and teenagers
More information on COVID-19 vaccines for children and teens can be found via our immunisation reference page below:
MVEC: COVID-19 vaccination in children
New educational resource: Generation Next course on COVID and kids
MVEC has collaborated with the team at Generation Next on a new resource featuring Dr Daryl Cheng to provide helpful strategies to get kids back to school safely and reduce transmission of COVID-19 in this group.
Course content reflects the combined efforts of immunisation paediatricians, adult physicians, immunisation nurses, infectious disease, and allergy specialists, as well as infection control teams. The information works to provide guidance and support for parents and communities to ensure a safe transition to a new COVID normal.
To enrol in this free course, please click on the link below:
Next Generation course: Covid and kids
CDC: Effectiveness of Pfizer-BioNTech mRNA Vaccination Against COVID-19 Hospitalization Among Persons Aged 12–18 Years
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have released a report about the effectiveness of Pfizer-BioNTech mRNA vaccination against COVID-19 hospitalization among persons aged 12–18 years.
The findings in the report suggested that among hospitalized U.S. patients aged 12–18 years, vaccine effectiveness of 2 doses of Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine against COVID-19 hospitalization during June–September 2021, was 93% (95% confidence interval = 83%–97%).
Key evaluation from the report demonstrated that 2 doses of Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine were highly effective in preventing COVID-19 hospitalization among persons aged 12–18 years, reinforcing the importance of vaccination to protect U.S. youths against severe COVID-19.
To read the report in full, please click on the link below.
CDC: Effectiveness of Pfizer-BioNTech mRNA Vaccination Against COVID-19 Hospitalization Among Persons Aged 12–18 Years
National Immunisation Program: Shingles vaccination catch-up program extended
The Department of Health has extended the shingles (herpes zoster) vaccine catch-up program available under the National Immunisation Program for a further 2 years until 31 October 2023.
The program extension will allow those who missed or delayed vaccination due to pandemic restrictions or other reasons, extra time to get vaccinated with Zostavax® to protect against shingles disease.
Shingles vaccination with the Zostavax® vaccine is free under the National Immunisation Program for people aged 70. The catch-up program offered to people aged 71-79 years was due to end on 31 October 2021.
To read the full announcement, please click on the link below.
National Immunisation Program: Shingles vaccination catch-up program extended
Provisional determination granted to Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine (COMIRNATY) - for use in children 5-11 years of age
The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) has granted provisional determination to Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine, Comirnaty™ as part of an application process to lower the approved age limit of vaccine administration from 12 years and above, to children 5 to 11 years.
Provisional determination is the first step in the provisional registration pathway. The provisional pathway for registration provides a formal and transparent mechanism for speeding up the registration of promising new medicines based on preliminary clinical data. Having provisional determination does not mean that provisional registration will be granted.
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Provisional determination granted to Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine (COMIRNATY) - for use in children 5-11 years of age
A recording is now available from The Alfred’s community information session on COVID-19 vaccinations and fertility
A webinar recording is now available from The Alfred’s community information session on COVID-19 vaccinations and fertility which was held on Thursday 7 October.
In this session, Alfred Health Infectious diseases physician and immunisation expert Prof Michelle Giles is joined by A/Prof Kate Stern, Head of Reproductive Services at The Royal Women's Hospital to discuss vaccination and fertility. They explain in detail how the vaccines work and answer questions from the community around fertility issues.
The full recording is available via the link below:
The Alfred community discussion 7 October
WHO recommends groundbreaking malaria vaccine for children at risk
The World Health Organization (WHO) is recommending widespread use of the RTS,S/AS01 (RTS,S) malaria vaccine among children in sub-Saharan Africa and in other regions with moderate to high P. falciparum malaria transmission. The recommendation is based on results from an ongoing pilot programme in Ghana, Kenya and Malawi that has reached more than 800 000 children since 2019.
According to the WHO, malaria remains a primary cause of childhood illness and death in sub-Saharan Africa where more than 260 000 African children under the age of five die from malaria annually.
WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus commented “This is a historic moment. The long-awaited malaria vaccine for children is a breakthrough for science, child health and malaria control. Using this vaccine on top of existing tools to prevent malaria could save tens of thousands of young lives each year.”
WHO recommends that the RTS,S/AS01 malaria vaccine be used for the prevention of P. falciparum malaria in children living in regions with moderate to high transmission as defined by WHO. In addition to this, RTS,S/AS01 malaria vaccine should be provided in a schedule of 4 doses in children from 5 months of age for the reduction of malaria disease and burden.
To read the extract in full, please click on the link below:
WHO recommends groundbreaking malaria vaccine for children at risk
SMH: Separating reproductive health fact from COVID-19 vaccine fiction
Dr Daryl Cheng spoke to ABC journalist Sarah Berry regarding the increasing amount of misinformation circulating about COVID-19 vaccines and women’s health. Many of the rumours target women who are pregnant or planning a pregnancy and who are already experiencing anxiety about making the best choices for the health of their babies.
In this article, Dr Daryl Cheng provides scientific data-based insights on the vaccine’s effect on reproductive health. The data focuses on providing advice and information to help refute some persistent rumours regarding fertility, menstruation, and IVF treatments in women.
Follow this link to read the full article:
SMH: Separating reproductive health fact from COVID-19 vaccine fiction