Immunisation Weekly Update:

RSV vaccine: Error alert

The introduction of new vaccine products can increase the risk of vaccine administration errors. Immunisation providers must ensure that a vaccine is clinically appropriate for the patient prior to administration. Some potential errors include:

• Error 1: Administration of Arexvy® in pregnant women instead of Abrysvo®
• Error 2: Administration of Abrysvo® to infants instead of Beyfortus™
• Error 3: Administration of NIP-funded Abrysvo® to adults instead of privately funded RSV vaccine.
  

Infant RSV immunisation

• Beyfortus™ (nirsevimab) monoclonal antibody is registered for used in infants aged <24 months.
• Funding: Beyfortus™ is funded by NSW Health for infants who meet the eligibility criteria.
• Recommendation: A single dose of Beyfortus™ is recommended for infants who are not protected by maternal RSV vaccination, given before their 1^st RSV season. Medically at-risk children are also recommended to receive Beyfortus™ before their 2^nd RSV season (RSV season is typically April to September).

Eligible newborns will be offered Beyfortus™ in hospital under the NSW RSV Prevention Program. General practices can order Beyfortus™ where an eligible child has been missed in hospital or has not received 2^nd RSV season dose in hospital. General practices are advised NOT to keep Beyfortus (nirsevimab) stock in their vaccine refrigerators.

Maternal RSV vaccine

• Only Abrysvo® is registered for used in pregnant women.
• Funding   : Abrysvo® vaccine is NIP-funded for pregnant women.
• Recommendation: A single dose of Abrysvo® given at 28 to 36 weeks gestation.
  

Adult RSV vaccine

• Either Arexvy® or Abrysvo® is registered for use in adults aged 60 years and over.
• Funding: Not funded for adults. Both Arexvy® or Abrysvo® are only available via private prescription.
• Recommendation: A single dose of either Arexvy® or Abrysvo® for all adults aged ≥75 years, given before the start of the RSV season where possible. 
  

Flu vaccination advice for 2025

In a letter to health professionals, Australia’s Chief Medical Officer expressed concern about declining influenza vaccine rates, urging vaccinators to focus on improving uptake as the flu season approaches.

The ATAGI statement also expressly noted that the importance of influenza vaccination should be emphasised, and that a healthcare professional recommendation is the strongest predictor of a person’s decision to vaccinate.

Official advice on influenza (flu) vaccination 2025 – including on which flu vaccines are registered and available for use in Australia in 2025 – is contained in the following three documents:

·       ATAGI statement on the administration of seasonal influenza vaccines in 2025

·       2025 influenza vaccination – Program advice for health professionals

·       2025 influenza (flu) vaccination – Consumer fact sheet

AIR infographics

Services Australia has released a series of new infographics on the Health Professional Education portal to support health professionals in using the Australian Immunisation Register (AIR).

The resources detail how to:

·       delete a vaccination from the AIR 

·       access and use AIR reports 

·       check the accuracy of immunisation encounters before reporting to the AIR 

Arexvy® vaccine safety data

Safety data published by AusVaxSafety report low adverse event rates after Arexvy® RSV vaccination. 

Safety surveillance data from more than 2,000 Arexvy® vaccine recipients between Feb to Sept 2024 showed that over 63% experienced no side effects in the first three days after vaccination. 

The most common adverse events experienced were local reactions (30%) – mainly pain, swelling and redness at the injection site – followed by fatigue (21%), muscle ache (myalgia; 13%) and headache (12%).  

The level of impact on routine activities was low, with less than 5% of respondents reporting missing work, study or routine duties in the three days after vaccination. The proportion of respondents reporting medical attendance to a GP or hospital was low, at 0.4%.  

Updated COVID-19 resources

The following COVID-19 vaccination program resources were recently updated:

• Cold Chain Breach (CCB) reporting form – updated 28 February 2025
• Vaccine Administration Error (VAE) reporting form – updated 28 February 2025

Education