Welcome to our weekly Immunisation Update! In this week’s update, read about:
NSW Health is reminding the community to avoid touching or handling bats, following a recent increase in people being bitten or scratched across the state. Australian bats are more active in Spring and Summer, and people should assume that any bat could carry Australian bat lyssavirus – a close relative of rabies virus.
Anyone who has potentially been exposed to rabies virus or other lyssaviruses through animal or bat bites and scratches is recommended to receive post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) with rabies vaccine and, in some cases, rabies immunoglobulin (HRIG).
Contact management protocol for healthcare providers
Healthcare providers must contact their local PHU on 1300 066 055 for advice on potential exposures to rabies or ABLV.
For Rabies and Australian Bat Lyssavirus (ABLV) advice, please review your local PHU advice and referral pathway.
Where indicated, authorised PHU staff can order PEP via the NSW Vaccine Centre. Do not administer private vaccine stock for PEP. Please obtain the patient’s weight for calculation of HRIG quantity required to avoid unnecessary repeat orders.
Help parents and carers stay on track with their child’s vaccinations by creating a personalised vaccination schedule based on the child’s date of birth.
The schedule outlines when each vaccine is due from birth to 4 years of age, making it easy for parents and carers to add vaccination dates to their phone calendar or display the schedule at home as a reminder.
Encourage families to follow the schedule and receive vaccines on time. Timely vaccination is the best way to protect children against serious vaccine-preventable diseases.
The National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance (NCIRS) have published a guide for health providers on vaccine recommendations for pregnant women.
Vaccination during pregnancy protects both the mother and baby from serious infectious diseases. Providers are encouraged to discuss vaccination during pregnancy with relevant patients and utilise the guide.
The following vaccines are recommended and funded under the NIP for pregnant patients:
More information on these recommendations is available from the Australian Immunisation Handbook.
From 1 October, the “NIP/Commonwealth” field in the Australian Immunisation Register (AIR) was updated to “NIP”.
Providers should select the “NIP” field option when recording NIP-funded vaccinations. Vaccine eligibility, reporting requirements and existing vaccination records remain unchanged.
COVID-19 has been now added to the NIP schedule, following the transition of COVID-19 vaccines to the NIP. View the updated NSW Immunisation Schedule here.
Providers are encouraged to order a copy of the updated schedule from CESPHN’s Immunisation – Resource order form.
| Wednesday 14 October 2026 18:30-19:45 AEST | Immunisation Coalition: Herpes Zoster; beyond an age cohort Webinar A GP panel discussion on immunisation as a preventative health strategy. Register Now |
| Saturday October 17 2026 9:00 – 16:30 AEDT | 4th Primary Care Infectious Disease Meeting Location: RACV City Club, Melbourne A hybrid event aimed at GPs, Nurse Immunisers and Pharmacists on initiatives to lift vaccination rates across the ages. Register now |
| Thursday 22 October 2026 19:00 – 20:00 AEDT | CESPHN Immunisation Without Borders: Measles resurgence, travel health and safeguarding Australia webinar A timely education session examining current travel immunisation recommendations including measles. Register Now |
| Thursday 29 October 2026 09:15 – 16:00 AEDT | Melbourne Vaccine Education Centre (MVEC) Clinical Vaccinology Update (CVU) Location: Glyn Davis Building, The University of Melbourne, Parkville MVEC’s upcoming CVU offers healthcare professionals the opportunity to hear from leading experts on the latest developments and trends in immunisation. Register Now |
