This post is not the latest immunisation update and therefore may contain information or advice that is out of date. Please see our most recent update here.
On 5 August, NSW Health was notified of two cases of meningococcal disease, one of these cases was a man in his 40s who died with the disease. So far this year, there have been 15 cases of meningococcal disease reported in NSW.
NSW Health is urging parents and young people to be alert to the symptoms of meningococcal disease and act immediately if they appear. Meningococcal cases tend to increase in late winter and early spring, with children under five and 15 to 25-year-olds at the greatest risk of contracting the disease.
Vaccination is the best way to protect yourself:
meningococcal ACWY (Men ACWY) vaccine is provided free for babies at 12 months, Year 10 adolescents, and people of all ages with certain medical conditions.
meningococcal B (Men B) vaccine is provided free for Aboriginal children <2 years and people with certain medical conditions
For more information on vaccination or symptoms, transmission, risks and treatment of Meningococcal, see the NSW Health Public Health Alert and NSW Health Media Release.
Healthcare provider interviews – evaluate vaccination communication resources
NCIRS is working to improve conversations between healthcare providers and their patients about routine vaccinations in pregnancy and early childhood by evaluating and improving two key online resources: Talking About Immunisation and MumBubVax.
Interviews will be conducted on Zoom between Monday, 8 August and Friday, 26 August. Interviews will take around thirty minutes, and providers will be paid $150 for their time.
Co-administration of vaccines: a guide for immunisation providers
This NCIRS guide aims to assist immunisation providers identify vaccines that can be co-administered in people aged 18 years and older. It should be used in conjunction with the Australian Immunisation Handbook.
While most vaccines can be co-administered with other vaccines at the same schedule point, separate injection sites should be used to ensure adequate immune response is induced and to reduce adverse events.
General practices who used privately purchased flu vaccines for the Free Flu vaccine program can seek remuneration for the purchase cost of vaccines administered between 1 June 2022 to 17 July 2022.
Registration does not guarantee access to the vaccine
Process following registration:
Information will be passed to NSW Health for further assessment
Patients will be notified by NSW Health of the assessment outcome:
Patients eligible for the first round will receive vaccine from the stat MPX vaccination clinic in August
Patients not eligible for the first round will be contacted by NSW Health from the end of September
ACON is unable to comment or provide any information about assessment outcome
GP information: MPX vaccine
GPs are encouraged to regularly check the Immunisation News & Alerts webpage for the latest information on Monkeypox – information is updated daily.
Can GPs order MPX vaccine?
Currently, no – initial vaccine doses will be managed by NSW Health and administered at a state MPX vaccination clinic
Initial doses will be prioritised to manage the immediate outbreak and will focus on those at greatest risk of severe illness and acquisition of the monkeypox virus
GPs may be able to order MPX vaccines in the later phases of the vaccine rollout
Where can GPs direct patients enquiring about MPX vaccine?
Direct patients to the ACON websitewhere patients can register their interest for the MPX vaccine:
Direct patients to key websites with MPX Information for LGBTQ+ communities in NSW
Direct patients to call Sexual Health InfoLink on 1800 451 624 for information on MPX vaccines
Can a GP directly refer a patient for vaccination?
Yes, GPs are able to directly refer high-risk patients for priority vaccination
High-risk patients eligible for this referral pathway include:
Vulnerable and marginalised high-risk gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men (GBMSM)
GBMSM who are HIV infected with CD4<200, sex industry workers, homeless, significant drug use, or Aboriginal and/Torres Strait Islander
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