Babies cannot be vaccinated against influenza until they are 6 months old. They also do not complete their vaccination course against whooping cough until 6 months of age.
Pregnant women should receive influenza and whooping cough vaccines during every pregnancy as it allows protective antibodies to pass through the placenta to the baby. This protects them in their first few months of life when they are most vulnerable and too young to be vaccinated themselves. It is safe to have both the influenza and whooping cough vaccines at the same time, and these can also be given with COVID-19 vaccines.
Partners, grandparents, carers and other adults who have contact with babies should also have the whooping cough vaccine to protect the baby from infection.
Order free Maternal vaccinations consumer brochures.
The AIR042A COVID-19 Vaccination Report is now available for vaccination providers to generate through the AIR site following recent enhancements that were made to improve the usability of the report.
The report provides the relevant COVID-19 vaccination history for individuals who have received a Medicare Benefit Scheme service at a provider’s practice, or individuals who were previously vaccinated by the provider.
Output options include number of doses received in a specified timeframe. For example, an individual has received 0 doses in the last 6 months.
Services Australia will publish an eLearning module for the AIR042A report soon which will include more information on how to use the AIR042A report.
A new Immunisation History Statement (IHS) is now available which only shows COVID-19 and influenza vaccination information recorded on the AIR and if there are any immunisation medical exemptions recorded for COVID-19. This provides individuals with more privacy as they can use it as evidence for employment purposes, instead of providing their full vaccination history.
Individuals can view and print their COVID-19 and influenza IHS from the AIR by either:
NSW Health is urging the community to book in for their influenza vaccine as the state’s flu season has now begun, with the latest data indicating influenza notifications have continued to increase. There has been an increase in the number of people who presented to NSW emergency departments with influenza-like illness and required admission to hospital – the greatest increase has been in children. More information on Influenza can be found here.
All adults can get a 2023 COVID-19 vaccine booster if it’s been six months or longer since their last COVID-19 booster or confirmed infection (whichever is most recent) for additional protection against severe illness from COVID-19. More advice on COVID-19 booster vaccines can be found here.
World Immunisation Week 2023 takes place from 24th to 30th April with the theme of “The Big Catch-up.” This week provides an opportunity to highlight the importance of immunisation in protecting individuals and communities against vaccine preventable diseases.
The campaign “The Big Catch-up” is crucial as it arrives at a pivotal moment for immunisation. The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on global immunisation efforts, resulting in a backlog of missed vaccinations worldwide.
Overdue childhood immunisation reports
Your practice can help by proactively following up overdue children using an overdue report extracted from AIR by CESPHN. Register your practice’s interest in receiving these reports. The report will contain a list of children who, according to AIR, are overdue for one or more of their scheduled childhood vaccinations. Your practice was the last provider of a vaccination service for the children on your report.
The Karen Orr Nurse Immunisation Education Scholarship 2023, awarded annually, offers a nurse or midwife up to $1,000 in funding to further their education by attending a conference or course to enhance their immunisation practice.
See NCIRS website for more information and how to apply. Applications close on Friday 5 May 2023.
CAT Plus: Flu vaccine for at-risk patients
About: Learn how to identify and manage patients due for flu vaccine, and at-risk patients eligible for NIP funded flu vaccine using CAT Plus
When: Thursday | 27 April 2023 | 1:00 pm – 1:30 pm
NCIRS: HPV in 2023 – latest vaccine recommendations and research
About: A webinar focused on changes to the HPV vaccination schedule and their implications, initiatives designed to maintain high levels of HPV vaccine coverage, and including an in-depth look at the use, effectiveness and safety of the vaccine.
When: Friday | 5 May 2023 | 2:00pm – 3:00 pm
Speak up for the community: Do you know someone who could give great input about health needs and services? voices4health is the place where people living in central and eastern Sydney can contribute to decision-making about health needs and services in the area where they live. This is a place…
Nominate for the 2023 CESPHN Primary Health Awards: The annual Central and Eastern Sydney PHN (CESPHN) Health Awards aims to recognise primary health care professionals and organisations that have provided exceptional service or an outstanding contribution to primary health care in the Central and Eastern region of Sydney during the…
Voices4Health – have your say about health services in your area Are you interested in having a say about health needs and health services in your area? voices4health is the place where people living in central and eastern Sydney can contribute to decision-making about health needs and services in the…
FIVE QUESTIONS is where we ask members of the community to talk about how they stay HEALTHY. General Manager First Nations Fashion + Design and Wiradjuri Woman living on Dharawal Country Emma Griggs (pictured below at the recent Australian Fashion Week 2023 at Carriageworks, Gadigal land), shared this: 1. What did…
Mandarin and Cantonese Diabetes Workshops: Diabetes NSW & ACT have FREE upcoming workshops delivered in Mandarin and Cantonese. We know small, healthy lifestyle decisions can lead to great improvements in health, and can prevent or delay the onset of complications associated with diabetes. Participants will learn about: Understanding diabetes Making…
