Immunisation Community of Practice

Pfizer is sponsoring a 6-week consumer awareness radio campaign on pneumococcal pneumonia that will commence on 29^th August 2022 on 2GB in Sydney and 3AW in Melbourne. This campaign is a pilot and may be extended to other cities later this year.

There are 15 second and 30 second versions of two different ads, directing consumers to visit mylunghealth.com.au to take a short quiz to assess their risk of pneumococcal pneumonia and to speak to their doctor or nurse for more information.

You can listen to the 30 second versions of the ads by clicking the links below.

• 2GB Sydney – 30 second ad
• 3AW Melbourne – 30 second ad

Since July 2020, one dose of Prevenar 13® is funded for non-Indigenous adults 70 years and older, Indigenous adults 50 years and older* and people with certain risk conditions*. Prevenar 13® can be given at any time of year and only one dose is needed.

Prevenar 13® is recommended even in patients who have previously received 23vPPV, at least 12 months after their 23vPPV dose.

Please visit the Australian Immunisation Handbook for a complete list of funded risk conditions and pneumococcal vaccine recommendations https://immunisationhandbook.health.gov.au/contents/vaccine-preventable-diseases/pneumococcal-disease#recommendations

*followed by 23vPPV doses

Share Your Immunisation Story via a photo or video

Are you interested in sharing your story via a pre-flimed video on how you have overcome or addressed an immunisation problem or have a great story to share?

If so please email details of your story to Rebecca at rbrennan@thephn.com.au, by Friday September 2nd

On this day I'd like to remind you that the meningococcal B vaccine (Bexsero®) was added to the National Immunisation Program schedule for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children <2 years of age, on the 1 July 2020.

Why is it being funded?

The incidence of invasive meningococcal disease (IMD) caused by serogroup B is highest in young children compared with other age groups and it is about 4 times higher in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children aged <2 years than in non-Indigenous children.

Immunisation providers are reminded to identify Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people within your practices and discuss the need for additional recommended vaccines. It is important to alert parents of the need to buy paracetamol prior to vaccination.

Dose schedule

The number of Bexsero® doses required depends on age and presence of any medical conditions that increase the risk of IMD. For Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children with:

• no medical risk conditions: 3 doses in total (given at 2*, 4 and 12 months of age)
• with risk conditions for IMD:4 doses in total (given at 2*, 4, 6 and 12 months of age)

Catch-up vaccination

Meningococcal B vaccine catch-up is available for all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children aged <2 years until 30 June 2023.

Co-administration with other vaccines

The meningococcal B vaccine (Bexsero®) can be safely administered with other childhood vaccines and can be given at the same time at the 2*, 4 and 12 months schedule points.

Meningococcal vaccines for Australians - NCIRS fact sheet

Clinical advice for vaccination providers - Meningococcal vaccination schedule from 1 July 2020

Meningococcal B consumer resources

• Order posters here
• Order brochures here

Hear from this year's Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children's Day Ambassador Thomas Mayor about the 2022 theme and how to get involved: https://buff.ly/3oSOLLQ

Vaccines are recommended throughout an individual’s life to protect against vaccine-preventable diseases severity and complications. Increasingly more vaccines are becoming available and are recommended for use in adults. This guide aims to assist immunisation providers identify vaccines that can be co-administered in people aged 18 years and older.

This guide should be used in conjunction with the Australian Immunisation Handbook and is available on the NCIRS website.

Co-administration of vaccines for adults: a guide for immunisation providers

The Ministry of Health (MoH) have recently released information re the Reimbursement of private flu vaccines that were purchased for the “Free Flu Vaccine” in June/July program. Please contact your PCIO or myself if you did not receive this notification or require a copy of the form.

Once the form is completed, all relevant invoices are to be attached and returned to to MOH-NSWHealth@health.nsw.gov.au by COB Friday 26 August 2022.

The form states it is to be used by GPs. It has been clarified by the MoH, that one form should be submitted per practice, the person completing the form (who is listed as the contact person), should be the most appropriate person at the practice to assist with vendor set up. This person could be a practice manager, nurse or GP. One provider number can be listed even if that provider is not completing the form.

Sanofi have advised that some FluQuadri vaccine stock supplied into Australia has international packaging with eligibility wording “For 3 years of age and older” (see photo). This includes FluQuadri supplied for the NSW Government’s universal flu vaccine program for people aged 5-64 years, who are not otherwise eligible under the National Immunisation Program (NIP).

The ATAGI statement of the administration of seasonal influenza vaccines in 2022 advises that FluQuadri may be given to children from 6 months of age.

Sanofi advises that these batches were approved by the TGA for supply in Australia under s19A, and that Sanofi was required to send this advice to all GP practices before distributing.

Provider reminder: ALL children aged 6 months to <5 years are eligible for free influenza vaccine under the NIP (Vaxigrip Tetra and Fluarix Tetra) as detailed in the ATAGI statement.

• Adults aged 50 to 64 years are now recommended to receive a winter booster dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.
• Adults aged 30 to 49 years can receive a winter booster dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, however the benefit for people in this age group is less certain.
• The interval recommended between a recent SARS-CoV-2 infection or the first booster dose and a winter booster dose is now 3 months.

The following item is posted on the Vaccine Ordering Centre website:

Zostavax remains restricted due to national supply shortages. To ensure ongoing supply to all immunisation providers, ordering quantities will be restricted until supply issues stabilise.

General practices who privately purchased flu vaccines for the “NSW free flu vaccine in June/July” program, will be able to submit a declaration form at the conclusion of the program (17 July 2022) to seek remuneration for the purchase cost of quantities administered during 1 June to 17 July.

Practices will need to complete one declaration form with attached invoices after 17 July 2022. The declaration form is still in development and will be circulated in July. As soon as the form becomes available, the PHN will update you.

For now, practices should keep records of:

1. invoices of privately purchased flu vaccines
2. number of private flu vaccines administered during 1 June to 17 July

NSW Health have announced that free flu shots for NSW residents will be extended until 17 July amid concerns vaccination rates are still not where they should be.

Free flu vaccine in NSW

The NSW Government will fund flu vaccinations for all NSW residents from 1 June 2022 to 17 July 2022 (previously 30 June) to boost immunity for the winter season. Free flu shots will be available at:

• GP clinics for everyone aged 6 months and over
• Pharmacies for everyone aged 5 years and over

NSW Health media: Free flu shots for all in June
NSW Health website: Influenza resources for health professionals