Immunisation Weekly Update:

This week: Rabies and travel vaccines webinar

Register for this week’s NCIRS webinar on rabies and travel vaccines on Thursday, 8 August 2024 from 12.00 to 1.30pm.

Leading physicians and researchers will present on topics including:

• recent changes to rabies vaccination recommendation in Australia
• rabies outbreaks and prevention in our region
• global trends in vaccine-preventable vector-borne diseases and what they mean for travellers
• practical tips for successful travel vaccination consults.

COVID-19 vaccine updates

Allocation decrease: Pfizer (XBB.1.5) 12+ years (Grey)

From Saturday 3 August 2024, maximum ordering allocations for the Pfizer (XBB.1.5) 12 years+ (Grey) vaccine will change from 600 doses to 120 doses per fortnight.

New: Pfizer (XBB.1.5) 6 months to 4 years (Maroon)

From Monday 19 August 2024, the Pfizer (XBB.1.5) 6 months to 4 years (Maroon) vaccine will be included in the in the National COVID-19 Vaccination Program.

Sites can place first orders for this vaccine via the CVAS ordering tab, as of Saturday 27 July 2024.

Infants and children aged 6 months to 4 years with conditions that may increase the risk of severe COVID-19 (other than severe immunocompromise) and who have not previously received a dose of COVID-19 vaccine, can consider a primary course with the Pfizer (XBB.1.5) 6 months to 4 years (Maroon) vaccine based on a risk-benefit assessment.

Expiring soon: Pfizer (ancestral formulation) 6 months to 4 years (Maroon)

The Pfizer (ancestral formulation) 6 months to 4 years (Maroon) vaccine will soon no longer be available in the National COVID-19 Vaccination Program, and current stock is due to expire in the coming months.

COVID-19 booster dose using the AIR042A report

Health practitioners are reminded to encourage a COVID-19 booster dose to all eligible patients. The AIR042A Report can be used to identify patients who are due for a COVID-19 booster dose. An eLearning module is available which explains how to request, modify, view, customise and interpret the AIR042A COVID-19 Vaccination Report on the Australian Immunisation Register site.

Summary of booster dose recommendations for 2024:

	75 years and older	65 to 74 years	18 to 64 years	5 to 17 years	Less than 5 years
Without severe immunocompromise	Recommended every 6 months	Recommended every 12 months Eligible every 6 months	Eligible every 12 months	Not recommended	Not recommended
With severe immunocompromise	Recommended every 6 months	Recommended every 12 months Eligible every 6 months	Recommended every 12 months Eligible every 6 months	Eligible every 12 months	Not recommended

Vaccination from community pharmacy

NCIRS’ factsheet Vaccination from community pharmacy has been updated to reflect recent changes to pharmacy vaccination. In New South Wales, pharmacies can now administer the rabies vaccine to people aged 5 years and over.

The factsheet offers a snapshot of the availability and current NIP funding status of vaccines that pharmacist immunisers can administer by jurisdiction.

Matter of Vax podcast

The Immunisation Foundation of Australia has released the latest season of its vaccination-focused series Matter of Vax, a bite-sized podcast and video series.

The new season explores the science behind vaccine-preventable diseases, ‘deep-diving’ on topics including RSV, pertussis (whooping cough), vaccination during pregnancy, travel vaccines and hepatitis.

Flu vaccine coverage in NSW

Snapshot of the latest NSW flu vaccine coverage from AIR data as at 4 August 2024: NCIRS Influenza vaccination coverage data.

Age group	NSW coverage (all people)	NSW coverage (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people)
6 months to under 5 years	23.4%	16.3%
65 years and over	58.2%	61.7%

Immunisation providers are reminded to encourage vaccination at every opportunity, especially for those medically at risk and eligible for free vaccination under the NIP.