Immunisation Weekly Update:

Welcome to our weekly Immunisation Update! In this week’s update read about:

• Flu vaccine pre-allocations now open
• Whooping cough cases unusually high
• QI activity: Pertussis vaccine recall
• Order: Maternal RSV consumer brochure
• Handbook RSV updates
• Influenza QI activities using PPR reports
• New childhood immunisation resources
• Education

Flu vaccine pre-allocations now open

Flu vaccine pre-allocations opened on 17 February 2025. Prepare for the upcoming influenza season by completing the 2025 flu checklist which includes the following key dates:

• Acknowledge your pre-allocation order on NSW Vaccine Centre portal before 7 March 2025.
• Decrease allocation quantity if you do not have adequate fridge storage space.
• Deliveries will commence from late March to early April 2025.
• Second orders can be placed once first orders are received and receipted in your vaccine account.
• Order flu campaign posters to display in your clinic.
  

Download the 2025 Influenza Vaccination Toolkit now to prepare for the upcoming 2025 influenza season. Further information about the 2025 seasonal influenza vaccination program is available on the NSW Health site.

Whooping cough cases unusually high

Australia has seen an unusually high number of whooping cough cases in 2025. In January, almost 5,000 cases were recorded in the National Notifiable Disease Surveillance System.  Most cases were in children aged 5 to 14 years.

This follows the previous year which saw the highest number of whooping cough cases reported since monitoring commenced in 1991.

Routine and catch-up vaccines (NIP funded)

Vaccination provides the best protection against whooping cough. The whooping cough (pertussis) vaccine is funded under the National Immunisation Program (NIP) as routine or catch-up vaccinations and are free for children aged up to 10 years, adolescents aged up to 20 years, and pregnant women.

Booster doses (private)

A booster dose of pertussis vaccine is recommended for the following cohorts but is not funded under the NIP. Vaccines can be purchased privately through GPs or pharmacists.

Adults aged 65 years and over are recommended to receive a booster dose of pertussis vaccine if they have not had one in the past 10 years. Pertussis is associated with increased morbidity in older people and protection wanes over time.

Travellers who have not had a pertussis dose in the past 10 years are recommended to receive a booster dose of pertussis vaccine due to waning of vaccine immunity.

Adult household contacts/carers of infants less than 6 months of age are recommended to receive a booster dose of pertussis vaccine at least 2 weeks before they have close contact with the infant if their last dose was more than 10 years ago. Pertussis infection in infants less than 6 months of age is associated with significant morbidity.

QI activity: Pertussis vaccine recall

CESPHN can support practices in implementing a pertussis vaccine QI activity, to recall patients who are overdue for their whooping cough vaccine. This activity will be using the AIR010A Due/Overdue reports extracted from the Australian Immunisation Register (AIR). A PIP ID (Practice Incentive Program ID) is required to access this report. Contact our team for assistance or follow instructions to complete the QI activity.

Order: Maternal RSV consumer brochure

On 7 February, the maternal vaccinations consumer brochure was updated to include information about the maternal RSV vaccine Abrysvo, following the following the recent launch of the RSV Mother & Infant Protection Program (RSV-MIPP).

The brochure covers recommended maternal vaccinations that are available free for pregnant women under the National Immunisation Program (pertussis, influenza and RSV) and gives information on vaccine safety and common side effects.

Order printed copies of this resource.

Handbook RSV updates

On 17 January, the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) chapter was revised to include recommendations on the maternal RSV vaccine Abrysvo® and the long-acting monoclonal antibody Beyfortus™ (nirsevimab), to coincide with the launch of  the new National RSV Mother & Infant Protection Program (RSV-MIPP). 

On 7 February, the Fundamentals of immunisation chapter was updated to include description of monoclonal antibodies and passive immunisation. 

Influenza QI activities using PPR reports

Today’s 30 minute online event will provide an overview of the new features and data sets in the redesigned Practice Progress Reports (PPR) and equip participants with the skills to use them effectively. Attendees will learn how to identify achievable quality improvement activities based on their PPR report data, including influenza QIMs, and explore solutions to address common issues that lead to lower data quality.

All practice staff involved in quality improvement activities are encouraged to attend this event, including recipients of CESPHN’s quarterly Practice Progress Reports.

New childhood immunisation resources

NSW Health

NSW Health has published a new Vaccinate on time resource which emphasises the importance of timely vaccinations for children. This resource is available on the NSW Health website.

Department of Health

On 12 February, new case study videos were added to the Childhood immunisation video resources collection. These videos feature other parents sharing their experiences with routine childhood immunisations.

Education