Immunisation Weekly Update:

• Diphtheria:  NSW Vaccination Recommendations
• NSW Health childhood vaccination campaign toolkit
• New respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) maternal vaccination resource
• Education

Diphtheria:  NSW Vaccination Recommendations 

NSW Health is reminding providers to check the diphtheria vaccination status of all Aboriginal people and offer vaccination where eligible. A NSW-funded vaccination program is currently available to support protection against diphtheria, particularly in the context of ongoing outbreaks in parts of Australia. 

Outbreak Response – Funded vaccination for Aboriginal people 

A funded dose of dTpa (Boostrix) is available for: 

• Aboriginal people travelling to a diphtheria outbreak area who have not received a diphtheria-containing vaccine in the past five years. 
• Aboriginal people in NSW who have not received a diphtheria-containing vaccine in the past 10 years, regardless of travel plans. 

National Immunisation Program – Funded vaccination for all people 

Funded diphtheria vaccination is also available under the National Immunisation Program (NIP) for: 

• Children at 2, 4, 6, 18 months and 4 years.  
• Adolescents between 11 and 13 years. 
• Catch-up vaccination for children and adolescents under 20 years of age. 
• Pregnant women   

Diphtheria vaccination is also recommended (not funded) for all people who meet specific age, location or occupational exposure risks.

Vaccine Provider actions

• Review vaccination records and identify patients due for catch-up or booster vaccination.
• Ensure Aboriginal patients remain up to date with recommended diphtheria vaccinations.
• Promote vaccination opportunities before travel to outbreak-affected regions.

Vaccination providers can order funded diphtheria vaccines through the NSW Vaccine Centre. For more information, please contact the public health unit on 1300 066 055.

NSW Health childhood vaccination campaign toolkit   

NSW Health has released a Childhood Vaccination Campaign Toolkit to support immunisation providers in promoting timely childhood vaccination. The toolkit includes ready-to-use posters, social media content, digital assets and key messages that can be used to encourage families to keep their children’s vaccinations up to date.  

Providers are encouraged to order resources  for promotion of immunisation in their clinics to improve vaccination awareness and coverage within their communities. 

New respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) maternal vaccination resource

Almost all children will be infected with RSV within their first two years of life, and RSV is a leading cause of hospitalisation in Australian infants under six months of age. Maternal RSV vaccination helps protect newborns from birth and during their first months of life by reducing the risk of severe RSV disease.   

To support awareness of the risks RSV poses to young children and the benefits of maternal vaccination, the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing has published a RSV vaccination campaign information kit. The kit contains communication resources, including translated and First Nations materials, that can be shared with pregnant women, families and the wider community. 

Funded RSV vaccination is available for pregnant women in NSW from 28 – 36 weeks, and can be given at the same time as other recommended maternal vaccines.

Providers are encouraged to utilise the RSV resources to promote vaccination among pregnant women and increase protection against RSV for pregnant women and vulnerable infants.

Education