Immunisation Community of Practice

Following feedback from the Aged Care providers and NSW Public Health Units, NSW Health has streamlined the ordering process for Residential Aged Care Facilities to order the NSW Stockpile of Oseltamivir (Tamiflu) for Influenza treatment and prophylaxis.

NSW Health has a limited supply of Oseltamivir (Tamiflu) available for facilities that are unable to source their own access to Oseltamivir (Tamiflu) via their local General Practitioner.

Residential Aged Care Facilities are now able to order up to 250 courses of Oseltamivir (Tamiflu) via RACF influenza antiviral treatment access - Immunisation programs (nsw.gov.au)(External link) following consultation and prescription from a General Practitioner.

For orders over 250 courses please consult with your local public health unit.

The Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care (DoHAC) has advised that their mandatory COVID-19 Vaccination Training Program (CVTP) will be ending on 1 October 2023. From 1 October 2023, clinicians participating in the administration of COVID-19 vaccines will no longer be required to complete the COVID-19 vaccine training modules developed by DoHAC in partnership with the Australian College of Nursing (ACN) and the learning platform will close.

The latest Provider Bulletin provides additional information on the cessation of the CVTP.

Authorised nurse and midwife immunisers and pharmacist immunisers that have undertaken the required training to supply and administer vaccines independent of a medical order will still be required to comply with NSW requirements. The Authority for registered nurses and midwives(External link) and the NSW Pharmacist Vaccination Standards(External link) have been revised and amended to include the following requirements for authorised immunisers administering COVID-19 vaccines:

• must have read the ATAGI guidance on the use of multi-dose vials for COVID-19 vaccinations(External link);
• must have reviewed the NSW guidance on management of COVID-19 vaccines specific to each the vaccines that the immuniser will be administering (see NSW Health COVID-19 vaccination webpage for immunisation providers(External link))

Additional information on immunisation is available on the NSW Health webpage(External link).

NSW Health is urging the community to be on alert for symptoms of meningococcal disease and act immediately if they appear after the notification of recent cases.Meningococcal disease is a rare, but serious and sometimes fatal infection.

Meningococcal disease can cause lifelong damage – organ failure, disability, death.

15–25-year-olds are at higher risk.

Know the symptoms and see a doctor urgently.

Meningococcal symptoms include:

• sudden fever
• nausea and vomiting
• severe limb pain
• severe headache
• difficulty waking up
• stiff neck
• upset by bright lights
• high pitched crying in babies
• red-purple rash which doesn’t disappear when pressed with a glass

In-country technical assistance on immunisation in Solomon Islands(External link)

NSWISS is now using Consultmed(External link) to manage referrals.

For GPs, specialists, allied health or health professionals

• Referrals can be made using Consultmed(External link), a secure e-referral platform. Create an account to get started.(External link)
• Referrals can also be emailed to SCHN-NSWISS@health.nsw.gov.au(External link).

The NSWISS advisory service provides specialist immunisation advice for clinicians and providers across NSW.

For timely advice, please email your enquiry to SCHN-NSWISS@health.nsw.gov.au(External link) The NSW Immunisation Specialist Clinic 1800 number is no longer in use

The advisory service is Monday-Friday 9.00 am to 5pm (excluding public holidays)

For general information please contact your local public health unit 1300 066 055.

This updated tear-off pad covers post-vaccination experiences, what to do at home if a reaction has occurred, when to seek medication advice and how to report an adverse reaction.

Download here(External link)

New stock will be available to order in coming months to reflect changes to the National Immunisation Program.

The meningococcal B (Men B) vaccination catch-up program for Aboriginal children has been extended indefinitely.

Who is eligible for funded meningococcal B vaccine?

• Bexsero is provided under the NIP for Aboriginal infants at 6 weeks, 4 months, and 12 months of age, and for ongoing catch-up vaccination for Aboriginal children under 2 years of age.
• Some Aboriginal children who have certain at-risk conditions may need an extra dose at 6 months of age.
• All people with asplenia, hyposplenia, complement deficiency and treatment with exculizumad.

Where do I find further information?

• NSW Health Immunisation Schedule(External link)
• Australian Immunisation Handbook(External link)
• Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care(External link)
• National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance (NCIRS)(External link)
• Contact your local Public Health Unit on 1300 066 055

Where do I get printed copies of the NSW immunisation schedule?

Immunisation providers may order the updated NSW Immunisation Schedule, A3 poster and fridge basket stickers by completing the NSW Immunisation Resource Order Form(External link) and sending to the Better Health Centre, either via email at nslhd-bhc@health.nsw.gov.au(External link) or fax on (02) 9887 5452.

NSW Health has a number of influenza resources and winter respiratory information for the community available on the NSW Health website(External link). This includes in-language resources(External link) and information on free influenza vaccination for higher-risk groups(External link). As flu continues to circulate, sharing these resources with the community can help encourage vaccination, staying home when sick and hand hygiene.

A health professionals' toolkit to assist healthcare providers in their conversations with parents and carers about childhood immunisation has been produced by the Department of Health and Aged Care. The kit includes various resources, answers to common questions, support for conversation approaches, following up on children who have missed scheduled vaccines and immunisation clinical support.

Routine Childhood Immunisation - health professionals' kit(External link)

GSK has refreshed the Rotarix Dosing and Administration wheel that it provides to immunisers to assist with dosing and administration of Rotarix. If you would like to order the new Rotarix dosing and administration wheels for your practice, please email your request to au.vaccines@gsk.com(External link)

If you still have copies of the old Rotarix Dosing and Administration Wheel (which was a purple colour), GSK recommends that you immediately cease use of that wheel and discard any copies currently in your possession.