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Immunisation Weekly Update:

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

  1. Largest mpox outbreak in NSW
  2. Yellow fever training
  3. Updated shingles FAQ
  4. COVID-19 consent forms archived
  5. Updated COVID-19 resources
  6. ATAGI Annual Statement on Immunisation 2024
  7. Study: Adults’ motivations to get a flu vaccine
  8. Education

NSW Chief Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant said NSW is now seeing the largest mpox outbreak in the state since the first case was confirmed in May 2022, with 433 notifications since 1 June 2024. 

NSW Health is urging men who have sex with men, sex workers and their sexual partners to get two free doses of mpox vaccine now to combat serious illness amid concerns of rising cases and hospitalisations in NSW.

Of the NSW cases, 37 per cent were fully vaccinated, 14 per cent had received one dose and 46 per cent were not vaccinated.

See NSW Health Media Release – 3 October 2024

The Individual training requirement for yellow fever vaccination providers fact sheet, updated 1 October 2024, outlines why the Yellow Fever Vaccination Course was introduced, who is required to complete it and how it can be accessed.

NCIRS’ herpes zoster (shingles) FAQs resource has been updated to reflect recent changes to Australia’s shingles vaccination program – and in particular, the recent expansion of eligibility for free Shingrix vaccine under the NIP to more people aged over 18 years who are immunocompromised as a result of an underlying health condition or as a side effect of a treatment.

NCIRS data show there has been a rapid uptake of Shingrix across Australia since Shingrix replaced Zostavax as the shingles vaccine funded under the NIP and eligibility for free shingles vaccination expanded across age groups and risk categories.

The Department has archived the COVID-19 consent forms developed at the commencement of the National COVID-19 Vaccine rollout.

Consent remains a requirement for all vaccinations, including COVID-19. This means the person receiving the vaccine needs to be aware of the risks and benefits of having the vaccine before they receive the vaccine. Verbal or written consent is considered acceptable and should be documented by the health care provider as per standard practice. 

Further information about consent can be found in the Australian Immunisation Handbook Preparing for vaccination chapter.

The following resources were updated 30 September 2024:

Recommended COVID-19 vaccine doses: This poster outlines the COVID-19 vaccine doses recommended for each age and population group.

COVID-19 vaccines in Australia – A3 poster: This poster provides key differences between each COVID-19 vaccine approved for use in the National COVID-19 Vaccine Program.

The ATAGI 2024 Annual Statement on Immunisation published 30 September 2024 is the fourth publication in this series. The statement highlights the key successes, trends and challenges in the use of vaccines and control of vaccine preventable diseases in Australia in 2023, and includes advice to address key issues for 2024.

Flu vaccination coverage in Australia during 2024 has been suboptimal across all age groups. Although vaccination coverage data can tell us who is under-vaccinated, they do not explain the reasons for low uptake or provide insights into why people want to get vaccinated.

Leading social science researchers from the National Vaccination Insights project have conducted a major national survey to understand what motivates adults in Australia to receive the influenza (flu) vaccine.

The study – which involved 2,055 adults aged over 18 years – is the first nationally representative survey of its kind to investigate the behavioural and social drivers that influence flu vaccine uptake.

The findings from this study offer important insights that may help inform strategies to reverse declining flu vaccination rates in Australia.

REGISTER 10 October 2024 12:00pm – 1:00pm AESTWebinar: Falling childhood vaccination rates: current context and future strategies This NCIRS webinar will explore decreases in childhood vaccination rates in Australia – and what can be done to reverse them.
REGISTER 17 October 2024 12:00pm – 1:00pm AESTWebinar: Pre-travel health & travel vaccination recommendations CESPHN presents this lunch and learn webinar covering how to deliver a pre-travel health consultation including vaccination recommendations and pre-travel health advice for travellers based on travel itinerary. Target audience: GPs, nurses, practice staff, practice managers, pharmacists and AHPs.
REGISTER 19 October 2024 9:00am – 4:00pm AEST ParkRoyal Darling HarbourHybrid event: Immunisation For Health And Life Immunisation Coalition presents this hybrid event specifically designed for General Practitioners and Nurses who immunise/vaccinate against infectious diseases. Topics include addressing vaccine hesitancy/fatigue, diagnosis and management of long COVID-19, vaccination errors, influenza and RSV, Q-fever, tools to recall under vaccinated patients, equity of vaccines, and a debate on whether monoclonal antibodies should be added to the NIP. Onsite attendance is limited to 100 seats, while online participation is unlimited.
REGISTER 26 October 2024 9:00am – 4:30pm AEST Pullman Hotel, MascotPractice Nurse Forum Day CESPHN is inviting practice nurses to join us for an exciting and comprehensive day of face-to-face presentations, practical workshops, networking opportunities, and the launch of our Practice Nurse Workforce Strategy. Establish connections with other nurses and healthcare professionals whilst elevating your nursing practice with workshops on Diabetes management, Wound care and Immunisation catch-up schedules.