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This post is not the latest immunisation update and therefore may contain information or advice that is out of date. Please see our most recent update here.
Updated PneumoSmart Vaccination Tool now available!
The PneumoSmart Vaccination Tool has been updated to the reflect the July 2020 changes to pneumococcal vaccination recommendations.
The Tool has been developed to assist GPs and other immunisation providers determine (based on patient’s age, indigenous status, specific medical conditions and vaccination history):
appropriate pneumococcal vaccine recommendations
if the vaccines will be NIP funded based on the current eligibility criteria
appropriate intervals between doses
PneumoSmart Vaccination Tool is endorsed by State and Commonwealth Health Departments and other peak bodies.
Changes to NSW Vaccine Centre webpage
From Thursday 5 November 2020, all immunisation service providers will be required to record the Medicare provider number* of each health professional administering vaccines at the practice on the NSW Vaccine Centre webpage.
Why have these changes been made?
to support roll out of the COVID-19 vaccination program when a vaccine becomes available.
to ensure NSW Health can track the journey of every vaccine dose distributed from the warehouse, administered to the patient and reported to the Australian Immunisation Register (AIR).
It will not be used for Medicare billing purposes.
*The provider number is a unique number issued to health professionals at each location they work and does not expire.
Amendment to the Australian Immunisation Register Act 2015
Public consultation is now open seeking feedback on a proposed amendment to the Australian Immunisation Register Act 2015 that would make it mandatory for all vaccination providers to report vaccines given to the Australian Immunisation Register.
The Department welcomes feedback on all aspects:
the proposed change: all vaccination providers will be required to report vaccines administered to all individuals in Australia to the AIR at the time of vaccination
the proposed timing: COVID-19 vaccinations and influenza vaccinations from 1 March 2021; all NIP vaccinations from 1 July 2021
the compliance measures: Education and support; Public disclosure of vaccination providers who fail to report; Suspension of the provision of NIP vaccines; Penalty provisions.
Feedback can be provided via the consultation hub prior to midnight on Sunday 15 November 2020.
Strategies to improve child influenza vaccination uptake
Most children who are hospitalised due to influenza have not had their influenza vaccination before becoming unwell with the virus.
Despite influenza causing more hospitalisations among children than any other vaccine preventable disease in Australia, uptake of influenza vaccine in children remains low.
A new study published in the Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health identifies barriers and potential strategies to improve influenza vaccination uptake in children.
Barriers
The authors of the study surveyed parents of children hospitalised due to acute respiratory illness across five paediatric hospitals to identify the strongest factors associated with not receiving an influenza vaccine in 2019:
the parent did not receive an influenza vaccination recommendation for their child from their healthcare provider
the parent not remembering to book an appointment
the parent could not get an appointment
the parent thought their friends were also not vaccinating their children
the parent did not believe in vaccinating against influenza
the child is not normally vaccinated against influenza
the parent is not normally vaccinated against influenza.
Strategies
Potential strategies to improve influenza vaccination uptake:
Healthcare providers should recommend influenza vaccination to all patients.
Interventions including parental prompts and reminders are also likely to help parents remember to make an appointment for their children’s vaccination.
Improving access by offering influenza vaccination through a broader range of avenues, and increasing opportunity through extended periods of access may also help improve uptake.
Welcome to our new website! As you may have noticed, our website looks different. Central and Eastern Sydney PHN have moved to a new site and although much has remained the same, we have introduced some new functions. These include: Updated navigation When you land on our new website, you…
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