Immunisation Weekly Update:

1. Diphtheria vaccination for Aboriginal people and travellers 
2. Child vaccination FAQ resource 
3. Fatal meningococcal Y case in WA 
4. Education

Diphtheria vaccination for Aboriginal people and travellers 

Recent diphtheria outbreaks in parts of Australia have prompted ATAGI to release updated advice regarding vaccination in outbreak settings.  

Clinicians should check patients’ diphtheria vaccination status, particularly for those patients travelling to outbreak-affected areas, which include the Northern Territory, and parts of Western and South Australia. ATAGI recommends a booster dose for travellers if more than five years have passed since their last diphtheria-containing vaccine.  

The NSW Government is funding a dTpa (Boostrix) booster for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people travelling to an outbreak area who have not had a dose of diphtheria-containing vaccine in the last 5 years. A Boostrix dose is also funded for all Aboriginal people in NSW who have not had a dose of diphtheria vaccine in in the last 10 years, irrespective of travel plans. GPs can order Boostrix doses for Aboriginal people from the State Vaccine Centre using a new Boostrix vaccine special order form.  

For further details, refer to: 

• ATAGI advice – diphtheria vaccination in outbreak settings 

• NSW Health – diphtheria vaccination for Aboriginal people and travellers 

Child vaccination FAQ resource 

The Department of Health, Disability and Ageing has released a new resource which has compiled answers to the most frequently asked questions about childhood vaccinations. Topics include how vaccines work, safety, side effects, diseases, and the schedule.  

The resource can help guide conversations about vaccinations with parents and alleviate common concerns.  

Fatal meningococcal Y case in WA 

Western Australia has reported a fatal case of meningococcal serogroup Y disease in an adult – the first serogroup Y case recorded in the state this year. 

Two other cases of invasive meningococcal disease reported in the state earlier this year were serogroup B. 

Meningococcal vaccination is recommended for: 

• infants, children, adolescents and young adults 

• special risk groups, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and individuals with certain medical conditions. 

Meningococcal vaccines are available free under the National Immunisation Program for eligible people, including at 12 months of age as part of the childhood schedule, and in Year 10 at school as part of the adolescent schedule. 

Education