Immunisation Weekly Update:

1. Targeting low vaccination rates in migrant populations
2. Not too late to vaccinate – Influenza and COVID-19
3. Protective effect of COVID-19 booster for people with cancer
4. Education

Targeting low vaccination rates in migrant populations

National and global research exploring the factors influencing lower vaccination rates among migrant populations continues to stress the need for targeted and accessible information.

A recent Global Health Promotion paper explored the sources of information about COVID-19 vaccines among 300 Eastern Mediterranean Region-born migrants. It found that 60% felt that they could easily access information in their native languages, while approximately 50% indicated that they had difficulty understanding vaccine information.

While precise data on vaccination coverage rates in migrant groups are limited, it is generally recognised that racially and ethnically minoritised populations are among those less likely to receive recommended and routine vaccinations.

Improving the accessibility of vaccines for migrant populations

A range of resources are available for health professionals to support the uptake of vaccines in migrant groups.

• The Australian Immunisation Handbook includes specific guidance on vaccination for migrants, refugees and people seeking asylum.
• The Department of Health, Ageing and Disability has translated versions of their resources on a range of immunisation-related topics
• Sharing Knowledge About Immunisation (SKAI) has a number of translated resources

Free vaccines for refugees and other humanitarian entrants of all ages

Refugees and other humanitarian entrants of any age can get National Immunisation Program vaccines for free if they did not receive them in childhood.

Source: NCIRS Weekly Jab newsletter 25 July 2025. Subscribe here: ncirs.org.au/user/register

Not too late to vaccinate – Influenza and COVID-19

The Australian Health Protection Committee (AHPC) has acknowledged the current increase in respiratory disease activity across Australia by releasing a statement urging at-risk individuals to have their annual influenza and COVID-19 vaccines.

AHPC is concerned that only 40% of adults aged 65 years and over and 77% of children aged six months to less than five years have not received an influenza vaccine this year. Additionally, fewer at-risk adults have received a COVID-19 vaccine in the past year compared to the previous.

Health professionals should ensure that they are supporting immunisation efforts by encouraging eligible patients to receive their vaccines. General practices can consider implementing an Influenza QI activity at their practice to ensure eligible patients have received their annual vaccine.

Protective effect of COVID-19 booster for people with cancer

A series of new studies published in JAMA Oncology have reaffirmed the protective effects of COVID-19 vaccine booster doses against severe SARS-CoV-2 infection, including for people with cancer – an immunocompromised population that has historically been underrepresented in clinical trials.

One large retrospective study found that COVID-19 related hospitalisation rates were 29% lower among 72,831 adults with cancer who had received a monovalent COVID-19 booster dose and 30% lower among 88,417 adults who had received a bivalent COVID-19 booster dose, compared with those who had not received a booster.

A separate recent prospective study of 1,572 patients with cancer showed that COVID-19 vaccination prior to SARS-CoV-2 infection was associated with a 50% reduction in risk of COVID-19-related hospitalisation.

More information on COVID-19 and other vaccinations for people with cancer can be found in NCIRS’ new Vaccination for people with immunocompromise FAQs resource, which summarises and supports the Australian Immunisation Handbook chapter on the same topic.

Source: NCIRS Weekly Jab newsletter 25 July 2025. Subscribe here: ncirs.org.au/user/register

Education