This post is not the latest immunisation update and therefore may contain information or advice that is out of date.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.
23 June 2021
The Australian Technical Advisory group on Immunisation (ATAGI) has reviewed their advice on the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine, and Pfizer is now the preferred vaccine for people under 60 years.
A new document Script for General Practices has been prepared to assist for General Practice staff in responding to patients with questions about the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine. An FAQ document can be provided to patients to inform them of the changes.
Read full ATAGI statement – 17 June 2021.
All people offered the COVID-19 AstraZeneca vaccine should be advised of the risk of TTS, the symptoms to watch out for in the 4 to 30 days following vaccination, and when to seek medical advice.
Symptoms of TTS include new onset of:
Clinical reminder
People presenting with symptoms of TTS in the 4 to 30 days after vaccination should be urgently investigated as per the latest ACEM and THANZ guidance.
Read the full NSW Health Clinical alert.
A new MBS item 10660 has been introduced to support GPs to provide in-depth clinical assessments of patients aged 50 years and over regarding patients’ individual health risks and benefits associated with receiving a COVID-19 vaccine.
The benefit of $38.75 may only be claimed where a General Practitioner attends to a patient in person for more than 10 minutes, and must be provided in conjunction with a relevant MBS COVID-19 vaccine suitability assessment item.
See MBS Online website and factsheet for more information.
The recommended interval between two doses of COVID-19 Vaccine AstraZeneca is 12 weeks.
Shortening the interval from 12 weeks to no less than 4 weeks between doses is acceptable and may be appropriate in certain circumstances, for example, imminent travel or anticipated risk of COVID-19 exposure.
It is important to remind patients about their upcoming second dose appointment. A second dose flyer for patients receiving their COVID-19 vaccine is available for distribution.
The Department has updated the COVID-19 vaccination decision-making guide for women who are pregnant, breastfeeding, or planning pregnancy with information on Comirnaty (Pfizer).
Real-world evidence has shown that Comirnaty is safe for pregnant women and breastfeeding women. Pregnant women should be routinely offered Comirnaty at any stage of pregnancy, and women who are trying to become pregnant do not need to delay vaccination or avoid becoming pregnant after vaccination.
COVID-19 vaccination may provide indirect protection to babies by transferring antibodies through the placenta (for pregnant women) or through breastmilk (for breastfeeding women).
The Australian Immunisation Register (AIR) has functionality for immunisation providers to report vaccines that were administered by another provider.
If a patient has evidence of COVID-19 vaccinations (or any vaccinations) administered elsewhere which have not been reported to the AIR, providers are encouraged to report this information to ensure their patients have a complete AIR record.
See How to record an immunisation encounter on the AIR site.
The Department has commenced its campaign promoting the importance of influenza vaccinations for children, which are free for children aged 6 months to under 5 years under the National Immunisation Program (NIP).
Specialised resources developed under the Sharing Knowledge About Immunisation (SKAI) project are also available to support parents with questions about influenza vaccination for their children. These include:
Vaccination providers access promotional materials, including posters and brochures, from the Influenza Resources Collection.
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 24 June, 11:30am (AEDT) | Click link to join
Get involved by submitting questions and comments!
COVID-19 vaccination – ATAGI clinical guidance on COVID-19 vaccine in Australia in 2021 (updated 18 June)
Clinical guidance for COVID-19 immunisation providers and program staff.
COVID-19 Vaccine resource webpage
Collection of the latest COVID-19 vaccine resources for immunisation providers and patients
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