Immunisation Weekly Update:

Welcome to our weekly Immunisation Update! In this week’s update read about:

• Become an Mpox vaccine provider
• Revamped mpox FAQs
• Decline in childhood vaccinations
• COVID-19 JN.1 vaccine
• New AIR Tip: Immunisation history statements
• Expiring 2024 flu vaccines
• End of year closure and vaccine stock
• Updated COVID-19 resources
• Education

Become an Mpox vaccine provider

All GPs are now eligible to become an mpox vaccine provider by contacting the Public Health Unit on 1300 066 055 (previously only S100 prescribers). A list of existing mpox vaccination clinics is available here.

Clinics with a large cohort of eligible patients attending the practice are strongly encouraged to enquire about becoming an mpox vaccine provider. Our team at sexualhealth@cesphn.com.au can assist with extracting a list of eligible patients from your clinical software.

With current mpox outbreaks occurring in NSW, all health provider clinics are encouraged to to assist in spreading awareness by downloading and printing this poster to place in waiting rooms .

Revamped mpox FAQs

NCIRS has published a new-look mpox frequently asked questions (FAQs) resource. The resource gives a clear, comprehensive picture of mpox and its prevention in Australia as at December 2024, and supports the Australian Immunisation Handbook | Mpox chapter.

Decline in childhood vaccinations

The National Vaccination Insights project this week published key findings from a forthcoming report that could help explain the gradual and concerning decline in childhood vaccinations among children in Australia.

A range of access and acceptance barriers were identified as being strongly associated with partial childhood vaccination. A full report that includes comprehensive findings from the survey – and suggests strategies to overcome identified barriers to vaccination – will be released in early 2025. 

Register your practice to participate in our Immunisation: Overdue Childhood Immunisation QI Activity.  

COVID-19 JN.1 vaccine

From 9 December 2024, the COVID-19 JN.1 vaccines were included in the National COVID-19 Vaccine Program.

The JN.1 vaccine comes in a range of presentations such as single-dose vials (SDV), multi-dose vials (MDV) and pre-filled syringe (PFS):

• Pfizer (JN.1) 12 years+: Pre-filled syringe (PFS) **new no-freeze formulation**
• Pfizer (JN.1) 12 years+: 6 dose vial (MDV)
• Pfizer (JN.1) 5-11 years: Single dose vial (SDV)
• Pfizer (JN.1) 6months-4 years: 3 dose vial (MDV)

New NO-FREEZE formulation

The JN.1 12 years+ pre-filled syringe (PFS) vaccine is a new formulation that is never frozen, so there is no thawed use-by-date.

The JN.1 single-dose and multi-dose vials (SDV and MDV) will continue to have a thawed use-by-date. To avoid vaccine administration errors, sites must have clear processes to identify the correct expiry dates for the range of JN.1 vaccine presentations.

Additional order requests

There will be no scheduled deliveries from 21 December to 5 January 2025. Sites running low on stock can request an Additional Order through CVAS. The deadline for Additional Order requests is 4:30pm, 13 December 2024:

Requests submitted by the deadline will be considered for delivery on or before 20 December 2024

Requests submitted after the deadline will be considered for delivery from 6 January 2025

Orders and deliveries

Orders placed from 7 to 20 December 2024 will be delivered by 10 January 2025.

Orders placed from 21 December 2024 to 3 January 2025 will be delivered by 17 January 2025.

New AIR Tip: Immunisation history statements

NCIRS week published a new AIR Tip – 6 December 2024, adding to the series of tips and updates to assist immunisation providers in navigating the Australian Immunisation Register (AIR).

The AIR Tip describes what information is included in an Immunisation History Statement (HIS) and how healthcare providers, as well as both individuals who are and are not enrolled with Medicare, can access the statements.

Expiring 2024 flu vaccines

The NSW State Vaccine Centre (SVC) has instructed all vaccine providers to review all 2024 flu vaccine expiration dates to help prevent vaccine administration errors. The SVC has recommended taking the following steps:

1. Inspect Storage: Check refrigerators for soon-to-expire doses.
2. Remove Expired Doses: Discard expired vaccines.
3. Update Records: Record discarded vaccines in the NSW Vaccine Centre online portal.

End of year closure and vaccine stock

Providers should not order excessive stock during the end of year period to avoid excessive wastages in the event of unexpected power outages. The State Vaccine Centre will be accepting vaccine orders until midday Wednesday 18th December to be dispatched for delivery Thursday 19th December. Routine deliveries will recommence on Monday 6th January 2025.

Updated COVID-19 resources

The following COVID-19 resources been updated to reflect current vaccine formulations:

• Vaccine Administration Error (VAE) reporting form – updated 3 December 2024
• Cold Chain Breach (CCB) reporting form – updated 3 December 2024

Education