Immunisation Coalition: 2024 Annual Immunisation Forum
这 Immunisation Coalition will be hosting their 8th Annual Immunisation Forum on 14 June 2024 in Brisbane.
The free, full-day event for immunisation specialists can be attended in person or via Zoom. The event will explore topics such as aged care, new vaccines for older people, adjuvanted vaccines, vaccinations in primary care and pharmacy, managing vaccine hesitancy and targeting at-risk populations.
Learn more and register on the event page:
Immunisation Coalition: 2024 Annual Immunisation Forum
WHO: Nigeria begins rollout of new Men5CV vaccine
Nigeria is the first country in the world to roll out the new Men5CV vaccine. Men5CV protects recipients against five strains of the Neisseria meningitidis bacteria (A, C, W, Y and X).
Nigeria is one of the 26 meningitis-endemic countries of Africa, in the area known as the Meningitis Belt. Between 1 October 2023 and 11 March 2024, Nigeria reported 1,742 suspected meningococcal C cases, including 101 confirmed cases and 153 deaths.
The vaccination campaign aims to reach more than one million people aged 1 to 29 years.
WHO: In world first, Nigeria introduces new 5-in-1 vaccine against meningitis
WHO: 'Global hepatitis report 2024' highlights number of deaths due to hepatitis increasing
According to the World Health Organization's (WHO) 'Global hepatitis report 2024', viral hepatitis and tuberculosis were the second leading causes of death among communicable diseases in 2022, after COVID-19.
WHO estimates approximately 1.3 million people died of viral hepatitis in 2022 and 6,000 people are newly infected with viral hepatitis each day. An estimated 12% of the disease burden is among children.
WHO: Global hepatitis report 2024
Chemical Communications: Developing a vaccine for street drug xylazine
Researchers are developing a vaccine which blocks the toxic effects of the drug xylazine, a drug which has been a cause of many overdose deaths in the illicit drug trade in the USA and the UK.
The vaccine has worked in mice, although no human trials have been undertaken. The study findings have been published in the journal Chemical Communications.
Updated immunisation reference page: Q fever
MVEC has updated its Q fever reference page to reflect the recent closure of the Australian Q Fever Register.
All Q fever vaccines administered should now be reported exclusively to the Australian Immunisation Register (AIR). Those who have previously been vaccinated against Q fever, or who have previously registered their natural immunity on the Australian Q Fever Register, should ensure their AIR record is up to date.
MVEC: Q fever records now to be added to AIR
MVEC: Q fever
Updated immunisation reference page: Vaccine-associated enhanced disease
MVEC has recently updated its reference page on vaccine-associated enhanced disease (VAED).
VAED is a rare phenomenon where a person who has been vaccinated experiences a more severe clinical presentation of an infection than would normally be seen in an unvaccinated person.
The new page includes more detailed information on VAED diagnosis, and vaccines that have been associated with VAED.
MVEC: Vaccine-associated enhanced diseased
State-based influenza vaccine programs announced in Qld and WA
Queensland and Western Australia have each announced free influenza vaccine programs for 2024.
In Queensland, all residents aged 6 months and older can access the influenza vaccine for free in 2024. The program will conclude on 30 September 2024.
In Western Australia, free influenza vaccines will be available for people aged 6 months and older during the months of May and June.
Influenza vaccination is funded through the National Immunisation Program (NIP) across Australia for:
- 6个月至5岁以下的儿童
- all adults aged 65 years and older
- specific populations aged 5 to 64 years who are greater risk of devleoping complications from influenza.
Queensland Health: 2024 Free flu vaccination program
Government of Western Australia: Free flu jabs available throughout May and June 2024
MVEC：流感
Queensland Health: Qld meningococcal B program underway for all children up to 2 years and for year 10 students
Queensland Health has commenced its expansion of the Queensland School Immunisation Program to include a 2-dose course of meningococcal B vaccination for year 10 students.
All infants and children in Queensland aged under 2 years and adolescents aged 15 to 19 years can now access the vaccine for free.
Queensland School Immunisation Program
MVEC：脑膜炎球菌
CVU mini: Register now
Registration is now open for the upcoming MVEC CVU mini.
The CVU mini will focus on RSV preventative therapies.
细节
When: Friday 21 June 2024
Where: The Royal Children’s Hospital, Parkville
This half-day, face-to-face event offers healthcare professionals the opportunity to hear from leading experts on the latest in RSV prevention.
Learn more and register on our event page.
Read about RSV on the MVEC：呼吸道合胞病毒（RSV） reference page.
Victorian Department of Health: Nurse immunisers, pharmacist immunisers and ATSIHP immunisers approved to administer Arexvy
In Victoria, nurse immunisers, pharmacist immunisers and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health practitioner (ATSIHP) immunisers are authorised to administer the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccine Arexvy.
RSV is a virus that causes both upper and lower respiratory tract infections. Arexvy is used to prevent RSV in people aged 60 years and older, and is recommended for:
- All adults aged 75 years and older
- First Nations adults aged 60 years and older
- adults aged 60 to 74 years with certain medical conditions.
Read more about Arexvy and RSV on our RSV reference page.