Welcome to our weekly Immunisation Update! In this week’s update read about:
A person has been infectious with measles in Eastgardens, Botany, Alexandria, Sydney CBD and Darling Square between 14 – 20 February 2025.
From now until March 9, cases of measles may present at general practices, especially among infants who are too young to be vaccinated and individuals who have not received both doses of the MMR vaccine (incomplete vaccination).
Ask patients presenting with fever or rash about recent overseas travel or visits to exposure sites. Refer to SESLHD Clinician Alert – Measles for guidance on the appropriate response.
Isolate and test people with measles symptoms exposed at these times and locations or recently returned from overseas. Locations include Westfield Eastgardens, Queen Victoria Building, Myer Sydney City, Bunnings Alexandria, Botany Road Doctors, Chemist Warehouse Botany, IGA Botany, and more.
Flu vaccine pre-allocations will close next week – acknowledge your pre-allocation order on NSW Vaccine Centre portal before 7 March 2025.
Prepare for the upcoming influenza season by completing the 2025 flu checklist and ordering flu campaign posters to display in your clinic.
Download the 2025 Influenza Vaccination Toolkit for further information about the 2025 seasonal influenza vaccination program, and refer to NSW Health site.
From 1 March 2025, it will be mandatory for all vaccination providers to report to the AIR information about whether an individual was pregnant at the time of vaccine administration.
Providers should update clinical software to support the reporting of pregnancy status at the time of vaccination to the AIR. Software providers have until October 2025 to update their software to include the antenatal indicator field and remove the ‘Antenatal’ option from the Vaccine type field.
Alternatively, providers can report of pregnancy status via the AIR site. Refer to instructions from NCIRS: How to report vaccines administered during pregnancy to the AIR or Services Australia: Submitting information using the AIR site infographic.
Following the success of the pneumococcal vaccination recall program in 2024, GoShare is continuing to support general practices in completing this quality improvement activity and recall patients 70 and over that are due for recommended and funded pneumococcal vaccination. Find more information and register your interest here.
CESPHN is offering registered nurses (RN) working in general practice within the CESPHN region the opportunity to apply for a scholarship to attend one of four face-to-face educational workshops.
Workshops include 2025 Immunisation Professional Development Conference, Ear Wax Removal (Irrigation), Managing Wounds in Primary Healthcare and Perform Peripheral Intravenous Cannulation and Iron Infusion.
| REGISTER 6 March 2025 7:00pm – 8:00pm | Mastering Cold Chain Management: Strive for 5 Guidelines and NIP Vaccinations for Pharmacists This session is specifically for pharmacist immunisers and will cover the importance of cold chain management, ensuring your pharmacy is meeting ‘Strive for 5’ guidelines, and best practices for storing and handling NIP vaccines. Learn about current tools and technologies for monitoring cold chain, ensuring patient safety, and maintaining compliance with regulations. Enhance your skills to improve vaccine storage practices in your pharmacy. |
| REGISTER 11 March 2025 7:00pm – 8:30pm | CESPHN Annual Immunisation Update 2025 CESPHN’s annual immunisation update will cover the latest clinical recommendations on RSV, influenza and COVID-19 vaccines for 2025, as well as recommendations for vaccines not included on the NIP. The presentation will also cover vaccination for at-risk population groups including children who are unwell, pregnant women, and patients with additional needs. |
Health Referral Forms
Immunisation Weekly Update: Childhood pneumococcal vaccine schedule change from 1 September 2025 New RSV resources Updated Handbook chapters Register for free QI activities: Vaccination recall programs No link between aluminium exposure and increased health risks Education Childhood pneumococcal vaccine schedule change from 1 September 2025 The Department of Health, Disability…
Immunisation Weekly Update: Targeting low vaccination rates in migrant populations Not too late to vaccinate – Influenza and COVID-19 Protective effect of COVID-19 booster for people with cancer Education Targeting low vaccination rates in migrant populations National and global research exploring the factors influencing lower vaccination rates among migrant populations…
Immunisation Weekly Update: Register for flu vaccine QI activities Share your thoughts on the Australian Immunisation Handbook mobile app Education Flu vaccine QI activities – quick & simple By the middle of winter, most proactive patients will have received their 2025 flu vaccine. Late July onwards is the optimal time…
Immunisation Weekly Update: Handbook chapter updates Expanded gender identity and COVID-19 options on AIR Preventing vaccines from light exposure GPs and specialists wanted to support National Immunisation Catch-up Calculator research Fewer adverse events after change to 13vPCV vaccine Education Handbook chapter updates The Australian Immunisation Handbook chapters for pneumococcal disease,…
Immunisation Weekly Update: Treatment of rabies and Australian bat lyssavirus Influenza vaccination coverage data update Correct administration of RSV vaccine and antibody products Education Treatment of rabies and Australian bat lyssavirus Any patient who presents with potential rabies or Australian bat lyssavirus exposure should be immediately referred to a doctor…
