Immunisation Weekly Update:

1. Childhood pneumococcal vaccine schedule change from 1 September 2025
2. New RSV resources
3. Updated Handbook chapters
4. Register for free QI activities: Vaccination recall programs
5. No link between aluminium exposure and increased health risks
6. Education

Childhood pneumococcal vaccine schedule change from 1 September 2025

The Department of Health, Disability and Ageing (DOHDA) has announced changes to the National Immunisation Program (NIP) childhood pneumococcal schedule, following advice from the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI).

From 1 September 2025, Prevenar 20 will replace Prevenar 13 and Pneumovax 23. All First Nations children will now receive 4 doses, ensuring national consistency.

From 1 September 2025, children should receive Prevenar 20 based on their current vaccination status:

• Non-First Nations children without risk conditions, who are yet to start the pneumococcal schedule should receive 3 doses of Prevenar 20 at 2,4 and 12 months of age.
• All First-Nations children and children diagnosed with any risk conditions listed in the Australian Immunisation Handbook, who are yet to start the pneumococcal schedule, should receive Prevenar 20 at 2,4,6 and 12 months of age.
• All children who have received 1 or 2 doses of Prevenar 13 should receive Prevenar 20 for all subsequent doses to complete the recommended vaccination course (where required).
• Children who have completed their vaccination course with Prevenar 13 and are due for any dose of Pneumovax 23 should receive 1 dose of Prevenar 20 instead. Pneumovax 23 may still be used while stock remains available.
• Children aged ≥12 months – ≤17 years newly diagnosed with any risk conditions listed in the Australian Immunisation Handbook should receive Prevenar 20 at diagnosis.

New RSV resources

The DOHDA has released new and updated resources on RSV for health professionals and consumers.

The resources include:

• Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccine consumer fact sheet
• Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccine – Frequently Asked Questions
• Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) products – Program advice for health professionals
• RSV vaccine and monoclonal antibody poster

Updated Handbook chapters

The Australian Immunisation Handbook chapters for hepatitis B, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and vaccination for women who are planning pregnancy, pregnant or breastfeeding, have been updated to reflect the latest evidence and align with other updates across the Handbook.

Hepatitis B

• Updated to reflect coadministration of Hepatitis B with other immunisation products, including RSV monoclonal antibody
  

Respiratory syncytial virus

• Updated to reflect the age extension of Arexvy among adults aged 50–59 years with medical risk conditions that increase the risk of severe RSV disease
• Updated wording regarding the upper gestational age for the administration of Abrysvo.
  

Vaccination for women who are planning pregnancy, pregnant or breastfeeding

• Minor editorial updates relating to wording around the upper gestational age for the administration of Abrysvo.

Register for free QI activities: Vaccination recall programs

General practices are encouraged to register for three free GoShare vaccination recall programs. These programs use GoShare to send a personalised SMS from your practice to eligible patients to encourage them to book an appointment.

Registration for the program only takes 15 minutes. Practices can participate in all three programs but must register for each individually below.

Flu vaccine recall for patients aged 65+

Free FluadQuad recall for patients aged 65+ who have not had a flu vaccine in 2025

For more information: Practice Brief

REGISTER your interest

The flu vaccine recall program has limited places remaining, so be sure to register your interest promptly!

Pneumococcal vaccine recall for patients aged 70+

Free Prevenar 13 recall for patients aged 70+ who have not received the vaccine

For more information: Program Information

REGISTER your interest

COVID-19 vaccine recall for patients aged 75+

Free COVID-19 recall for patients aged 75+ who have not received a COVID-19 vaccine in the past 6 months

For more information: Program Brief

REGISTER your interest

No link between aluminium exposure and increased health risks

A 24-year study of more than 1.2 million Danish children has added to the already considerable evidence finding no tie between exposure to aluminum-adjuvanted childhood vaccines and autoimmune, atopic or allergic, or neurodevelopmental conditions such as autism.

Aluminium-based adjuvants are often used in inactivated vaccines, including childhood vaccines against diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis, Haemophilus influenzae type b, pneumococcal, and hepatitis A and B to boost immune responses, the study authors noted.

“Although immunisation with aluminum-adsorbed vaccines in children has been used worldwide for many decades and is generally considered safe, concerns about potential harms continue to resurface,” they wrote. Aluminium-based adjuvants are often used in inactivated vaccines.

The researchers found no association between cumulative aluminium exposure in vaccines in the first 2 years of life and increased risk of any of the 50 chronic conditions studied, which consisted of 36 autoimmune, 9 atopic or allergic, and 5 neurodevelopmental conditions.

Read the full study here.

Education