Immunisation Community of Practice

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Welcome to the Immunisation Community of Practice. A community of practice (CoP) is a group of people with a shared passion who come together and learn how to do better. The PHNs Immunisation CoP is your opportunity to get answers, share ideas and build your professional network regarding immunisation.

The PHN Immunisation CoP aims to reduce the incidence of vaccine preventable diseases in the community by providing appropriate and timely information about vaccine preventable diseases and the Immunise Australia Program to immunisation providers and the community and promote the delivery of the National Immunisation Program (NIP).

Immunisation is a simple, safe and effective way of protecting people against harmful diseases that can cause serious health problems in the community. Immunisation not only protects individuals from life-threatening diseases, but also dramatically reduces transmission in the community. The more people who are vaccinated, the fewer opportunities a disease has to spread.

Some of the benefits of joining this Community are:

  • 24/7 access to filed Immunisation resources,
  • keep current with Immunisation updates,
  • brainstorm about Immunisation,
  • and network with colleagues passionate about Immunisation.

Welcome to the Immunisation Community of Practice. A community of practice (CoP) is a group of people with a shared passion who come together and learn how to do better. The PHNs Immunisation CoP is your opportunity to get answers, share ideas and build your professional network regarding immunisation.

The PHN Immunisation CoP aims to reduce the incidence of vaccine preventable diseases in the community by providing appropriate and timely information about vaccine preventable diseases and the Immunise Australia Program to immunisation providers and the community and promote the delivery of the National Immunisation Program (NIP).

Immunisation is a simple, safe and effective way of protecting people against harmful diseases that can cause serious health problems in the community. Immunisation not only protects individuals from life-threatening diseases, but also dramatically reduces transmission in the community. The more people who are vaccinated, the fewer opportunities a disease has to spread.

Some of the benefits of joining this Community are:

  • 24/7 access to filed Immunisation resources,
  • keep current with Immunisation updates,
  • brainstorm about Immunisation,
  • and network with colleagues passionate about Immunisation.
  • EOI Now Open - Adult Pneumococcal Vaccine Recall Program

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    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.

    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

    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

  • Services Australia: Updates to AIR forms 9th December 2024

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    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.

  • AIR uploads are no longer available in MedicalDirector Clinical version 4.2 and below.

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    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 which has been updated as of the 1st of November

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    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).

  • Clarification of the National Immunisation Program maternal respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccine program

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    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.

  • Enhancements to the Australian Immunisation Register

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    Update to COVID-19 vaccine names

    From 16 November 2024, COVID-19 vaccine names will no longer display the manufacturer name within the Australian Immunisation Register (AIR). For example, the ‘Pfizer Comirnaty XBB.1.5’ vaccine will display as ‘Comirnaty XBB.1.5’.

    This simplifies the display of COVID-19 vaccines and aligns with how other vaccines are recorded in the AIR.

    Vaccination providers may notice this change when they are viewing or recording immunisation encounters in their clinical software (integrated with the AIR) or through the AIR site.

    The AIR vaccine codes for COVID-19 vaccines will remain the same. Further information about AIR vaccine codes and vaccine brand names is available on the Services Australia website here.

    Introduction of an antenatal indicator

    From 8 December 2024, a new bespoke antenatal indictor will be added to the AIR. This will allow vaccination providers to report to the AIR if the person is pregnant at the time of vaccine administration.

    In addition, improvements will be made to the ‘vaccine type’ field to simplify the reporting options available for vaccination providers. This includes removing the ‘Private’ and ‘State funded’ options and replacing with ‘Other’.

    Maternal immunisation is critical in protecting pregnant women and their babies from serious illness and severe complications from vaccine preventable diseases. The collection of antenatal data is important as it ensures that the AIR contains a complete and reliable dataset to enable the monitoring of immunisation coverage and administration, and the effectiveness and safety of maternal vaccines and vaccination programs.

    These enhancements will be implemented in a phased approach. Vaccination providers wanting to know when these changes will be available in their clinical software are encouraged to speak with their software provider.

    Implementation date Summary of changes
    8 December 2024

    Software developers will have the ability to build the new antenatal indicator into their clinical software products.

    Vaccination providers using updated clinical software will have the ability to report the AIR the:

    • new antenatal indicator; and
    • following options under the ‘vaccine type’ field
    - NIP/Commonwealth
    - Other
    9 February 2025

    Vaccination providers using the AIR site will have the ability to report to the AIR the:

    • new antenatal indicator; and
    • following options under the ‘vaccine type’ field
    - NIP/Commonwealth
    - Other
    Between December 2024 and October 2025

    Vaccination providers using clinical software with older technology will have the ability to continue to report antenatal information using the ‘vaccine type’ field. This includes the following options:

    • NIP/Commonwealth
    • Other
    • Antenatal


  • Respiratory syncytial virus vaccine Abrysvo® will be added to the National Immunisation Program in 2025 for pregnant women

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    The Department of Health and Aged Care has announced that the Abrysvo® vaccine for the prevention of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) will be added to the National Immunisation Program (NIP) for pregnant women in 2025. This vaccine is recommended for women between 28-36 weeks of pregnancy and protects their newborn child against RSV.

    The Australian Government in partnership with all States and Territories will also support national access to the monoclonal antibody, Beyfortus (Nirsevimab), which provides direct protection to newborns and young children.

    More information about the program, including the start date, will be announced as soon as possible.

    Immunisation providers cannot claim non-NIP Abrysvo® stock under NIP claiming arrangements in advance of the program launch in 2025.

    Further information:

  • Resource to support reporting of infant vaccinations to AIR released

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    Services Australia has published a new resource to support health professionals in reporting infant vaccinations to the AIR.

    The factsheet outlines the record-matching process in the AIR and what to do if duplicate AIR records are identified. It provides a step-by-step guide to reporting infant vaccinations on the AIR site as well as guidance on what to do in situations where certain information may be unknown.

    Report vaccinations for infants to the AIR

    This new release adds to a suite of infographic and eLearning education resources designed to help health professionals interact with the AIR accurately and efficiently.

  • New childhood immunisation resources for parents

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    Childhood immunisation is important to protect our kids against serious diseases.

    Adjunct Professor Alison McMillan, the Australian Government' 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.

    Watch the videos here

  • Immunisation Toolkit for Immunisation Providers

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    The Immunisation Toolkit for Immunisation Providers ( formerly known as the GP Toolkit), has been updated to include information and guidance to all immunisation providers. The toolkit is available on the NSW Health webpage.

Page last updated: 06 Dec 2024, 12:35 PM