Central and Eastern Sydney PHN is currently seeking GP, nurse, and pharmacist clinical representatives to join the Immunisation Working Group for the SLHD and SESLHD regions. We are seeking applications for the following clinical representatives:
The Immunisation Working Group is a partnership between immunisation providers, Public Health Units, and the CESPHN immunisation team to jointly develop and implement immunisation strategies in the region.
The roles and responsibilities of the clinical representatives include attendance at two online meetings per year (1.5 hours each) which will include:
Representatives will be remunerated for their time and appointed in accordance with the terms and conditions outlined in the EIS Representation Policy. Submit an expression of interest through this online form, outlining your relevant experience and interest in the role.
With rising measles cases locally and abroad, it’s vital to stay informed and ready. Join us online for a lunch and learn session that will cover measles epidemiology, who may be under-vaccinated (especially those born 1966–1994), free MMR vaccine access in NSW, travel-related recommendations, and how to navigate immunisation history records. Refresh your measles knowledge and help protect our community.
Date: Next Monday 26 May 2025
Time: 12.30pm – 1.30pm
Audience: GPs, Nurses, Practice managers and staff, Pharmacists
Presented by: Dr Vicky Sheppeard, Director SESLHD Public Health Unit
Childhood and adolescent vaccination coverage rates in Australia decreased again in 2024, following a pattern of steady and concerning declines since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, new interim coverage data from the National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance (NCIRS) has revealed.
Fully vaccinated coverage continued to decrease in 2024 at all three standard age milestones (12, 24 and 60 months of age). The largest decrease was at 12 months, with coverage dropping from 94.8% to 91.6% between 2020 and 2024.
Declines were also pronounced among adolescents; the percentage of adolescents who had received at least one dose of human papillomavirus vaccine by 15 years of age decreased from 2023 to 2024 (84.2% to 81,1% for girls, 81.8% to 77.9% for boys), as did coverage of the meningococcal ACWY vaccine (72.8% to 71.3%).
In Australia, active investigation of the barriers to – and drivers of – vaccination is in progress, including through the ongoing National Vaccination Insights project,. This has already identified a range of barriers, the most significant of which include practical difficulties regarding appointments and costs as well as misbeliefs and lack of trust regarding the safety and effectiveness of vaccines.
Read the full NCIRS media release here.
The latest NCIRS flu vaccination coverage data for the year up to 10 May 2025 is available below. More granular data is available on the NCIRS website
Remind your patients to access their Q fever vaccination evidence (Q fever eStatement) prior to 30 June 2025 and take this to a recognised vaccination provider in Australia for these details to be reported to the AIR.
Since 15 April 2024, providers can report Q fever vaccines and natural immunity information to the AIT, and can no longer report Q fever vaccine information to the Q Fever Register.
Individuals with an existing record in the Australian Q Fever Register prior to 15 April 2024 will only be able to access their information, including their Q Fever eStatement, until 30 June 2025. After this date, individuals will no longer be able to access their information.
Individuals can access their Q Fever eStatement by either logging onto the Q Fever Register website and downloading a copy, or requesting a copy by contacting the Q Fever Register on 1300 733 837.
Since Q-VAX® is a one-off immunisation that must not be given a second time, nor given to anyone who has previously had Q fever, maintaining accurate records on the AIR means that important information is immediately available to you and your fellow health practitioners.
To ensure comprehensive records continue to be maintained for the one-off vaccine, every time Q-VAX® (Q fever vaccine) is administered to a patient, vaccination providers should report this, together with natural immunity information, directly to the Australian Immunisation Register (AIR).
The Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing (formerly the Department of Health and Aged Care) is currently reviewing immunisation information on the health.gov.au website. They are seeking feedback from both health professionals and the general public to make sure the information is relevant and useful.
Health professionals can complete the online survey for health professionals.
The general public can complete the online survey for consumers.
The Department of Health, Disability and Ageing has released a series of new videos to add to its collection of childhood immunisation resources aimed at parents and carers of younger children.
The videos offer quick summaries of a range of topics relating to childhood immunisation, including when and why children are recommended to receive the vaccines listed on the NIP Schedule and what to expect before, during, and after a childhood vaccination appointment.
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