Immunisation weekly update – 11 May 2022

Practice nurse orientation event

CESPHN is hosting a practice nurse orientation event for nurses new to general practice. It is also a good opportunity to network and build relationships with other nurses in the region and share information and experience. Top of Form

Please register here for this exciting event, taking place online on Tuesday 24 May 2022 from 7:00pm to 8:30pm. Presented by Karen Booth, RN, educator, and President of Australian Practice Nurse Association (APNA).

Opportunistic shingles vaccination

The impact of shingles (herpes zoster) and its complications can be severe and long-lasting. However, vaccination is a safe and effective way to protect against this disease in most people. 

Influenza and COVID-19 vaccination encounters over the coming winter months may offer an opportunity for providers to discuss the shingles vaccine with people aged 70 to 79 years who are eligible for the NIP funded Zostavax vaccine. 

Register now for the NCIRS preventing shingles and its complications webinar, discussing update on herpes zoster, its complications and disease burden; and herpes zoster vaccines available. Thursday 12 May 2022 at 12:30pm – 2:00pm.

Key COVID-19 updates for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities

This newsletter covers information for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander households, communities and stakeholders to stay safe during the coronavirus outbreak, as well as information about COVID-19 vaccines and boosters.

Adolescent vaccines now available in pharmacies

The impact of COVID-19 has meant that almost 80,000 students missed out on their routine vaccinations in 2020 and 2021. For the first time in NSW, pharmacists are now able to offer vaccines to adolescents who have missed out on their school vaccinations during the COVID-19 pandemic. Under new regulations that took effect on 6 May 2022, pharmacists will be able to administer:

• the human papillomavirus virus (Gardasil 9) vaccine to people 12 years and over
• the diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis (Boostrix) vaccine to people 12 years and over and
• the meningococcal ACWY (Nimenrix) vaccine to those aged 14 years and over.

In addition, pharmacists will now be able to administer measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine to people aged 12 years and over (lowered from 16 years). The NSW Pharmacist Vaccination Standards was updated on 6 May 2022.

Winter preparedness and flu vaccine

This year, there is already an upward trend in the reporting of influenza (flu) cases, so vaccinating against the flu is a priority in 2022. Annual influenza vaccination is the most important measure to prevent influenza and its complications. The influenza vaccine is recommended for all individuals aged 6 months and over, and free for eligible groups.

Dr Lucas de Toca has answered some Top 3 questions about influenza which is a good resource for the general public, and the department hosted two webinars discussing winter preparedness: Winter Preparedness webinar for General Practitioners and Winter Preparedness webinar for Pharmacists.

International Nurses Day 2022

Nurses are at the forefront of immunisation education and delivery in Australia as seen through the ongoing COVID-19 vaccine campaign. International Nurses Day (IND) is celebrated on 12 May, the birthday of Florence Nightingale.

In 2022, the theme of IND is ‘Nurses: A Voice to Lead’ which focuses on the need to invest in nursing and respect the rights of nurses to build resilient, high-quality health systems to meet the needs of individuals and communities now and into the future.

Webinars

COVID-19 live stream update for GPs

• COVID-19 vaccinelive stream for GPs – key updates and live Q&A
• Details:Thursday 12 May 2022 at 11:30am (AEDT)
• Click link to join

Practice Nurse Orientation

• Orientation on the role of nurses in the primary health care team in the private business environment
• Details: Tuesday 24 May 2022 at 7:00pm to 8:30pm
• Register now

Immunisation news

Catch up on previous Immunisation Weekly Updates.