Immunisation weekly update – 20 April 2022

Vaccine withdrawals

If your practice would like to amend the types of vaccines your clinic will be administering or would like to withdraw from the COVID-19 vaccination program, contact CESPHN. You must notify your intention to withdraw or amend the types of vaccines your clinic will be administering in writing via email to coronavirus@cesphn.com.au. CSEPHN will pass this information onto the Taskforce to enable the accurate administration of the request.

Children aged 5-11 now eligible for second dose of COVID-19 vaccine

Many children are now eligible for their second dose of their primary course of COVID-19 vaccine. Practices are encouraged to proactively reach out to parents and carers of children who have received their first dose of the vaccine and are now due for their second dose. Consider making appointments available through the school holidays, outside school hours and on the weekend.

Download the AIR042A report help identify children who are due for their second dose of COVID-19 vaccine. Need help downloading AIR42A report? Contact immunisation@cesphn.com.au for support.

Reminder: ATAGI does not recommend booster dose for 12–15-year-olds

ATAGI notes that the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) has approved a booster dose of Comirnaty (Pfizer) COVID-19 vaccine for use in adolescents aged 12-15 years. However, at this time, ATAGI does not recommend that adolescents aged 12-15 years need to receive a booster dose of Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine.

Winter dose COVID-19 vaccine administration error advice

 ATAGI has updated document to include information about replacement dose advice for winter booster doses. See ATAGI clinical guidance on COVID-19 vaccine administration errors.

Important reminder: Influenza vaccine

Annual 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. This year Australians are more vulnerable to influenza due to lower recent exposure to the virus and lower uptake of influenza vaccines in 2021. With international borders reopening, it’s likely Australia will see more influenza in 2022.

See latest Influenza immunisation data – 1 March 2022 to 18 April 2022.

Importance of HPV vaccine course completion

New analysis of human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination coverage by researchers from NCIRS and the Australian Centre for the Prevention of Cervical Cancer has shown that although Australia is currently on track to eliminate targeted HPV types, an ongoing focus on equity in vaccine delivery systems to ensure course completion is needed.

Download the AIR10A report to identify adolescent patients overdue for their HPV vaccine from the Australian Immunisation Register. Need help downloading AIR10A report? Contact immunisation@cesphn.com.au for support.

COVID-19 live stream update for GPs

Join the latest COVID-19 vaccine live stream update for GPs. The panel will provide latest key updates and answer participants’ questions live about the COVID-19 vaccine rollout.

Details: Thursday 21 April  2022 at 3:30pm (AEDT) | Click link to join

Immunisation news

Catch up on previous Immunisation Weekly Updates.