Immunisation Weekly Update:

• Measles alerts for Sydney
• Counterfeit rabies vaccine in India
• Education

Measles alerts for Sydney

In 2025, NSW reported 29 measles cases, including overseas-acquired, interstate-acquired, and locally linked cases. Ongoing outbreaks continue internationally and within Australia, including in WA and QLD.

NSW Health recently issued an urgent clinician alert following a number of recent public exposures and a locally acquired measles case in Sydney with no known source. CESPHN encourages all primary care providers to review the latest guidance and remain vigilant.

People who have visited any of these locations during the dates and times listed are advised to watch for symptoms and seek medical care if symptoms develop:

Vaccination recommendations

Chief Medical Officer Michael Kidd has released a statement reaffirming the importance of measles vaccination and outlining updated advice from the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI).

Measles containing vaccine (MMR vaccine) is free under the NIP for:

• children at 12 months and 18 months of age;
• people aged under 20 years old needing catch-up vaccinations;
• refugees and humanitarian entrants of any age.  

NSW Health also funds the vaccine as an additional state-funded vaccine for:

• Individuals born during or after 1966 who have not had two doses of a measles containing vaccine, or with an uncertain measles vaccination history​
• Rubella seronegative postnatal women.
• Infants 6 months to <12 months travelling to countries where measles is endemic, or where measles outbreaks are occurring.

ATAGI has updated their advice to recommend that infants aged 6 to 11 months should receive an additional dose of an MMR vaccine when travelling overseas.

• Where an infant aged 6 to 11 months receives an MMR dose before travelling overseas, the dose needs to be repeated. This means that these infants need 2 further doses of measles-containing vaccine.
• They should receive the next dose of MMR vaccine at 12 months of age or 4 weeks after the 1st dose, whichever is later.
• They should receive their final dose of measles-containing vaccine as MMRV vaccine at 18 months of age as routinely recommended.

Counterfeit rabies vaccine in India

ATAGI has been alerted to the distribution of counterfeit Abhayrab® rabies vaccine circulating in India since 1 November 2023. Individuals who may have received Abhayrab® in India may require replacement rabies PEP vaccination. Read the full statement here.

Please contact PHU for further guidance.

Education