Immunisation weekly update – 27 July 2022

Supporting GPs to manage influenza and respiratory infections

This webinar provides examples of GP clinics in CESPHN who have implemented practical ways to help manage face to face consultation with patients who have respiratory symptoms, influenza infection and COVID-19 infection. Watch recording of webinar here.

Ukrainians in NSW: Access to immunisation and health services  

People from Ukraine who arrived in Australia on or after 1 December 2021 are eligible to access public hospital services free of charge under the NSW Health policy for asylum seekers without Medicare.

Being Medicare ineligible severely limits access to GPs. Some of this gap will be filled by the NSW Refugee Health Service’s GP clinics in Sydney. Other refugees may access private GPs, who can potentially be funded by Settlement Services International (SSI) on request; some GPs may choose to provide pro-bono care.

Resources in English and in Ukrainian

• Free catch-up immunisation for Ukrainian children, teenagers and adults (in English)
• Free public health care for Ukrainians in NSW (in English)

• Free catch-up immunisation for Ukrainian children, teenagers and adults (in Ukrainian) 
• Free public health care for Ukrainians in NSW (in Ukrainian)

 Key contacts:

• NSW Refugee Health Service | 9794 0770 | SWSLHD-RefugeeHealth@health.nsw.gov.au
• Settlement Services International | 9685 0100 | Ukrainian.support@ssi.org.au
• STARTTS | 9794 1900 | stts-startts@health.nsw.gov.au 

Immunisation providers: Help shape the future of AIR by sharing your experiences

Services Australia are conducting research to identify and validate the current pain points of the Australian Immunisation Register (AIR) to better understand potential opportunities and co-design solutions. Services Australia would like to engage with a broad range of immunisation providers (hospital, pharmacy, general practice, aged care, etc) who interact with the AIR on a regular basis.

The initial intent is to engage with providers face to face for 45 minutes, then identify where further workshops may be required for different user groups.

The outcome of these findings will inform recommendations for a full research report to be provided to the Department of Health in December 2022.

Stakeholders who would like to participate in this research should contact air.strategy.experience@servicesaustralia.gov.au.  

Fourth dose eligibility – Quick reference guide

ATAGI has updated its recommendations for an additional booster dose (fourth dose) for selected population groups who are at greatest risk of severe illness from COVID-19. This quick reference guide can be used by vaccine providers to assist in identifying patients eligible for a 4th dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.

Increasing rates of vaccinations for people with an intellectual disability

Have you contacted your patients with an intellectual disability to discuss their annual vaccinations?

Following up recalls and conversations about vaccinations are important to have with your patients with intellectual disability because:

• People with intellectual disability (ID) are three times more likely than the general population to be admitted for vaccine-preventable conditions.
• A NDIS Quality and Safeguard Commission report found that a very small proportion of people with ID had received an influenza or pneumococcal vaccine in the 12 months prior to their death.

Do you want to increase your confidence to have these conversations with your patients with ID?

• CESPHN service navigators can run tailored in-practice Intellectual Disability Health Care workshops for GPs, Practice Nurses, Practice Managers, and reception staff.
• Please contact the Intellectual Disability Navigators for further support.

Upcoming immunisation webinars

GP weekly webinar: latest information on the COVID-19 vaccine

• About: primary care update on the COVID-19 response and the vaccine rollout. The panel will provide key updates and answer participants’ questions. GPs and all health professionals are welcome.
• Click link to join webinar onThursday 28 July 2022 at 11:30am (AEST).

Immunisation news

Catch up on previous Immunisation Weekly Updates.