Immunisation Community of Practice

Please find the following advice about the upcoming NSW RSV Prevention Program 2025 following announcement of the NIP maternal RSV program commencing 3 February 2025.

Key points:

• From 3 February 2025 the maternal RSV vaccine, Abrysvo®, will be funded under the National Immunisation Program (NIP) and recommended for pregnant women from 28 to 36 weeks gestation.
• Antenatal care providers should offer Abrysvo year-round at the 28-week antenatal visit from 3 February 2025.
• From 17 March 2025, infants not protected by maternal RSV vaccination or with risk conditions for severe RSV disease, children up to 24 months of age with risk conditions for severe RSV disease entering their second RSV season and infants born from 1 October 2024 to 16 March 2025 who did not receive nirsevimab at birth under the current NSW RSV Vulnerable Babies Program will be eligible to receive nirsevimab. Nirsevimab is funded by NSW Health.
• The current NSW RSV Vulnerable Babies Program will end on 16 March 2025 when the new program commences.
• Immunisation providers can commence ordering Abrysvo from today Monday 20 January 2025 from the NSW Vaccine Centre Online Ordering System - Online Ordering System Login.

To assist immunisation providers to prepare for the launch of the NSW RSV Prevention Program 2025 commencing 3 February 2025, a letter to healthprofessionals has been sent out and supporting NSW Health resources for the program below.

The full suite of resources for RSV Prevention Program are available on the NSW Health Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) webpage which can also be accessed from the Vaccinations before, during and after pregnancy webpage.

1. Information for parents and carers including:

· RSV fact sheet

· Maternal RSV vaccination (Abrysvo) fact sheet - information for pregnant women

· Infant RSV immunisation (nirsevimab) fact sheet - information for parents and carers

· Video - Maternal RSV vaccination advice from the Senior Clinician Obstetrician, Dr Andrew Woods

1. Aboriginal specific resources:

· Video - Maternal RSV vaccination advice from an Aboriginal midwife Narelle, Malabar Midwifery Group Practice

· The full suite of Aboriginal specific resources is currently under development.

1. Resources for health professionals including:

· Clinicians Guide – webpage format

· Eligibility Information

· Clinical Decision Aids

· FAQs

· Webinar

Please note the NSW RSV Vulnerable Babies Program pages have been combined with the NSW RSV Prevention Program pages given the overlap with the two programs.

New vaccines in pregnancy resources:

• Vaccinations before, during and after pregnancylanding page
  • A ‘one stop shop’ for information about vaccinations in pregnancy
• Vaccinations before, during and after pregnancy resource for pregnant women.
  • We encourage all antenatal care providers to share this resource with pregnant women in the early stages of pregnancy to start conversations about vaccinations early.
• Vaccinations in pregnancy video for consumers

Further information

RSV vaccine program - CMO letter

RSV vaccine program - frequently asked questions

RSV vaccine program - consumer fact sheet

RSV vaccine program - advice for health professionals

Japanese encephalitis (JE) virus has now been found in mosquitos in the Moree area, in the first results reported from the program this year. No human cases at the moment.

For further information on eligibility for JEV vaccination:

Japanese encephalitis vaccination

Vaccines can be ordered via the State Vaccine Centre (SVC).

NSW Vaccine Centre Online Ordering System - Online Ordering System Login

There are 2 vaccines available to order:

Imojev

• Single dose schedule
• No restriction to ordering (for identified high risk areas)

JEspect

• 2 dose schedule
• Restricted ordering
• Recommended for use in people who are immunocompromised or pregnant

Please refer to the Australian Immunisation Handbook (AIH) for further details or contact the Hunter New England Public Health Unit Phone: 1300 066 055

Please also share the social media tile below in your community networks:

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/163FYryFRH/?mibextid=WC7FNe

The HNECCPHN is excited to announce that Expressions of Interest (EOI) are now open to General Practices to participate in a Free Adult Pneumococcal Vaccine Recall Program - Starting in Early 2025

The PHN, in collaboration with Healthily (a communications company) and Pfizer, is inviting General Practices within our region that use CAT4 to participate in a free Pneumococcal SMS recall program.

This Quality Improvement Activity supports a streamlined recall process, to increase the uptake of the National Immunisation Program (NIP) funded Pneumococcal vaccination in older adults.

Register to participate here. Register now and start when you are ready to implement the program.

For additional information on the program and for a QI PDSA example, please refer to the document folder on this page; 2025 Adult Pneumococcal Vaccine Recall Program

Please contact Kaycee via practicesupport@thephn.com.au if you require additional information

Pnuemococcal vaccine

Pneumococcal disease essentials: What every GP should know
RACGP (AUS), Thursday 5 December 2024
Dr Linny Kimly Phuong, a paediatric infectious diseases physician, outlines the different clinical manifestations of pneumococcal disease, dividing them into invasive and non-invasive categories.
Listen here

The Australian Immunisation Handbook chapter on meningococcal disease has been updated and includes:

• removal of reference to Trumenba vacccine which has been discontinued.
• clinical guidance added for scenarios where Trumenba primary series was not completed or a booster is required.
• clinical guidance added for adolescents who have previously received MenACWY or MenB vaccine.
• variation from product information added for interval and number of doses for Bexsero in infants aged 2-5 months.

The updated meningococcal chapter can be viewed here.

In 2024, Australia has experienced a surge in whooping cough cases. It’s serious for babies and children but can affect people of all ages.

Free vaccination against whooping cough is available under the National Immunisation Program for:

• Children aged 2 months, 4 months, 6 months, 18 months and 4 years.
• Adolescents aged 12-13 years through school-based vaccination programs.
• Pregnant women (ideally between 20-32 weeks).

Health professionals play a vital role in protecting patients from serious complications of whooping cough.

Understand the vaccine eligibility

New childhood immunisation resources for parents

Childhood immunisation is important to protect our kids against serious diseases, and your patients may have questions.

Adjunct Professor Alison McMillan, the Australian Government's Chief Nursing and Midwifery Officer, answers common questions from parents and carers about childhood immunisation in a new video series.

The videos answer questions on:

• what the childhood immunisation schedule is
• how vaccines work to protect children from serious diseases
• vaccine safety
• what to expect when it comes to childhood immunisation
• yearly influenza vaccines.

Talk to your patients about the childhood immunisation schedule and share these resources.

New childhood immunisation videos for parents

IM011 Form - AIR immunisation medical exemption

• Updates to the vaccine list:

• Addition of Comirnaty JN.1
• Addition of Shingrix
• Removal of AstraZeneca

• Updates to COVID-19 vaccine names to remove the manufacturer name.

IM013 Form - AIR immunisation history 9 December 2024

• Updates to the ‘Vaccine type’ column within the immunisation details table to replace the ‘Private’ and ‘State Program’ options with ‘Other’.

IM018 Form - AIR immunisation encounter

• Updates to the vaccine list:

• Addition of Comirnaty JN.1
• Removal of AstraZeneca

• Updates to COVID-19 vaccine names to remove the manufacturer name.

From 5 December 2024, Services Australia no longer supports AIR uploads from Clinical V4.2 or earlier.

Find out more, including how to manually record an AIR encounter using HPOS here

SHINGRIX Australian Product Information has been updated as of the 1st of November. These changes will further support the quality use and safe administration of SHINGRIX.

The changes include:

• The addition of a recommended needle gauge for reconstitution (21G-25G)

• Specific instruction to administer 0.5mL of the reconstituted vaccine.

The inclusions in section 4.2 of the Australian PI are below:

Instructions for Use and Handling: The powder and suspension should be inspected visually for any particulate matter and/or variation to the expected appearance (i.e. white powder and opalescent, colourless to pale brownish liquid). If either is observed, do not reconstitute the vaccine¹.

How to prepare SHINGRIX:

SHINGRIX must be reconstituted prior to administration¹.

1. Withdraw the entire contents of the vial containing the suspension into a syringe with a suitable needle (21G to 25G)¹.

2. Add the entire contents of the syringe into the vial containing the powder¹.

3. Shake gently until the powder is completely dissolved¹.

The reconstituted vaccine is an opalescent, colourless to pale brownish liquid¹.

The reconstituted vaccine should be inspected visually for any foreign particulate matter and/or variation of appearance. If either is observed, do not administer the vaccine¹.

After reconstitution, the vaccine should be used promptly; if this is not possible, the vaccine should be stored in a refrigerator (2°C – 8°C). If not used within 6 hours it should be discarded¹.

Before administration:

1. Withdraw the entire contents of the vial containing the reconstituted vaccine into the syringe¹.

2. Change the needle so that you are using a new needle to administer the vaccine¹.

3. Administer 0.5mL intramuscularly¹.

AUSTRALIAN PRODUCT INFORMATION SHINGRIX (RECOMBINANT VARICELLA ZOSTER VIRUS GLYCOPROTEIN E ANTIGEN) POWDER AND SUSPENSION FOR SUSPENSION FOR INJECTION (ACCESSED ON 21 NOVEMBER 2024).

The Department of Health and Aged Care has clarified recent misinterpretations about the inclusion of the Abrysvo^® RSV vaccine for eligible pregnant women to the National Immunisation Program (NIP) for 2025.

To clarify:

• The maternal RSV vaccine, Abrysvo®, will be provided for free through the NIP to eligible women at 28 to 36 weeks of pregnancy. The maternal RSV vaccine will be in addition to the whooping cough and influenza vaccines, already available for free through the NIP for pregnant women.
• States and Territories will provide access to the monoclonal antibody, Beyfortus™, to newborns and young children. This product will not be covered through the NIP.

The Australian Government is working with all States and Territories to support a coordinated approach to accessing maternal and infant RSV products. Arrangements are underway and further details of both Commonwealth and jurisdictional programs, including the start dates, will be announced once confirmed. Questions on access to Beyfortus™ should be directed to the relevant state or territory government.

• There has been some reporting that the maternal RSV vaccine Abrysvo® is now available on the NIP. Currently, the Abrysvo® vaccine is only available on the private market and if purchased, cannot be reimbursed through the NIP. The maternal RSV vaccine will be available through the NIP in early 2025.
• No RSV vaccines for older Australians are currently funded through the NIP. These are only available on the private market and purchase of these cannot be reimbursed through the NIP.

More information and clinical advice can be viewed on the Australian Immunisation Handbook Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) chapter.