Immunisation Weekly Update:

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

• Infant RSV program in 2025
• New Pfizer JN.1 COVID-19 vaccine
• Measles alert: Sydney Inner West
• AIR enhancement update
• and more …

Infant RSV program in 2025

NSW will be rolling out the 2025 RSV prevention program for infants from mid-March next year. Infants will be able to receive a free immunisation to protect them against serious illness from respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).

The RSV prevention program will see the NSW Government fund nirsevimab (Beyfortus), a type of monoclonal antibody immunisation, for infants who are not protected through maternal vaccination, and those at increased risk of severe RSV.

Maternal RSV vaccination

From early 2025, pregnant women will be offered a free RSV vaccine (Abrysvo) under the National Immunisation Program (NIP) at 28-36 weeks of pregnancy, which will in turn protect their newborn infant from RSV.

New Pfizer JN.1 COVID-19 vaccine

From 9 December 2024, the new Pfizer JN.1 COVID-19 vaccines will be included in the National COVID-19 Vaccine Program.

Onboarding, ordering and delivery

Sites will be onboarded in two tranches, based on site’s current fortnightly ordering windows. The first ordering window for the JN.1 COVID-19 vaccines opens on 16 Nov 24 (requested delivery date for 6 Dec 2024). Additional orders for JN.1 vaccines will not be assessed until after all sites in both Tranches have received their first deliveries.

AIR reporting

Reporting Pfizer JN.1 vaccines to the Australian Immunisation Register (AIR) for will become available from 30 November 2024 using Practice Management Software and via the AIR site.

There are multiple Pfizer vaccines – providers must enter the correct vaccine and batch/lot number when reporting information to the AIR.

Latest COVID-19 resources

Immunisation providers must ensure they are referring to the latest COVID-19 immunisation resources: the COVID-19 vaccines in Australia – A3 poster (updated 14 Nov 2024) and the Recommended COVID-19 vaccine doses.

Click here for clear view of table

Measles alert: Sydney Inner West

On 16 November 2024, NSW Health advised people to be alert for signs and symptoms of measles after being notified of a confirmed case who was infectious while visiting several locations in Sydney’s Inner West.

The case recently returned from Southeast Asia where there have been ongoing outbreaks of measles in several countries.

MMR vaccines are available free to:

• Children at ages 12 months and 18 months, funded by the National Immunisation Program 
• People born during or since 1966 who have not had 2 doses of MMR, funded by NSW Health.

Children under the age of 12 months can have their first dose of MMR up to three months earlier if they are travelling to areas with a high risk for measles. Parents should consult their GP.

AIR updates

New antenatal indicator

A new antenatal indictor will be added to the AIR to allow vaccination providers to report if the person is pregnant at the time of vaccine administration.

This new feature will be available on updated clinical software from 8 December 2024, and on the AIR site from 8 February 2025.  

Maternal immunisation is critical in protecting pregnant women and their babies from serious illness and severe complications from vaccine preventable diseases.

The collection of antenatal data is important to enable the monitoring or immunisation coverage and the effectiveness and safety of maternal vaccines and vaccination programs.

‘Vaccine Type’ field updated

The ‘Vaccine Type’ field will be simplified to include just two options to choose from: ‘NIP/Commonwealth’ and ‘Other’. The options for Antenatal, Private and State funded will be removed.

This change will be available on updated clinical software from 8 December 2024, and on the AIR site from 8 February 2025. 

Between December 2024 and October 2025, providers using older clinical software will have the ability to continue to report antenatal information using the ‘vaccine type’ field. This includes the following options: NIP/Commonwealth, Other and Antenatal.

Update to COVID-19 vaccine names 

From 16 November 2024, COVID-19 vaccine names will no longer display the manufacturer name on the Australian Immunisation Register (AIR). For example, the ‘Pfizer Comirnaty XBB.1.5’ vaccine will display as ‘Comirnaty XBB.1.5’.

Vaccination providers may notice this change when they are viewing or recording immunisation encounters in their clinical software (integrated with the AIR) or through the AIR site. Refer to AIR vaccine code formats for the current list of vaccine brand names and codes.

New-look AusVaxSafety data dashboard

A new interactive display that offers comprehensive safety information about vaccines given at each NIP schedule point is now available on the AusVaxSafety website.

Countering misinformation about mpox

The Australian CDC published Mpox: Know the facts FAQs which addresses common questions and misconceptions about mpox to help counter misinformation about mpox.

Shingles program advice for health professionals

The new NIP Shingles vaccination –Program advice for health professionals was published on 12 November 2024.This fact sheet provides advice to health professionals on the changes to the National Immunisation Program (NIP) shingles vaccination schedule.

Education

REGISTER 20 November 2024 6:00pm – 7:00pm	2024 Shingles Update webinar This Immunisation Coalition webinar provides viewers with an update regarding shingles epidemiology, changes to the NIP schedule, and current trends in vaccination rates.
REGISTER 21 November 2024 7:00pm – 8:00pm	National Mpox Webinar: Vaccination and Testing There has been an increase of local mpox transmission rates in Australia, namely in NSW and VIC, but also in most jurisdictions. Although vaccination rates are rising, in NSW and VIC, only 15-20% have completed the full required course of two doses of the mpox vaccine (GBQ+ periodic survey).  This webinar is for doctors & nurses in all healthcare settings and will discuss vaccination strategies, when to consider mpox as a differential diagnosis, and provide insights on clade 1b.
REGISTER 3 December 2024 12:00pm – 1:00pm	Lunch and Learn: Mpox management and prevention in CESPHN region This webinar will cover key aspects of mpox management and prevention, including an overview of the virus, clinical diagnosis and treatment strategies. It will also highlight the role of vaccination and how we can all support uptake of vaccination for eligible populations.
Register via email 6 December 2024 9:00am – 1:00pm	SLHD Authorised Nurse Immuniser Annual Update 2024 ANIs working in SLHD and SESLHD are invited to attend SLHD’s Annual Immunisation Update 2024. Topics include: updated on the NIP, vaccine administrations errors, vaccinating difficult patients, legislation and guidelines, AEFI and anaphylaxis, Handbook updates, neonatal HepB, yellow fever, cold chain and audits, mpox and sexual health, and a brief NSW schools program update.
REGISTER 9 February, 2025 – 10 February 2025 Start: 5:15pm 9/2/25 Finish: 5:00pm 10/2/25	Immunisation Coalition: The 26th Annual Scientific Meeting This event is expected to hold significant importance for the scientific and medical community, government health officials, academics, and various health-related non-government organisations.