Immunisation weekly update – 6 April 2022

New COVID-19 vaccine certificate for children 

Reward children who receive their COVID-19 vaccine with this printable certificate produced by CESPHN. A positive first dose experience will help ease the anxiety for future vaccine doses.

Practices are encouraged to promote childhood COVID-19 vaccination during the Easter school holidays. COVID-19 can be co-administered with influenza vaccine. Visit the CESPHN Immunisation website to print certificates for your practice.

Further information and provider resources:

• Poster: Vaccinating Children – Don’t Forget to Check
• Guidelines: How to speak to kids about COVID-19 vaccines
• Decision aid: NCIRS COVID-19 decision aid for parents
• Guidelines: COVID-19 vaccine information for children, teens and parents/guardians

COVID-19 vaccination coverage in children

Due to the low uptake of vaccinations for children in the Canterbury-Bankstown, Bayside and George’s River LGAs, practice are strongly encouraged to promote childhood COVID-19 vaccination during the Easter school holidays. Download the AIR42A report to identify all children due for the COVID-19 vaccine.

Factors influencing COVID-19 vaccine uptake – a guide

NCIRS has developed an evidence-based guide highlighting factors that may facilitate or act as barriers to people’s acceptance of the COVID-19 vaccines. This guide can be used to communicate with patients to address their questions and concerns and to optimise COVID-19 vaccine uptake.

Free flu vaccine for patients at higher risk 

NSW Health is urging higher risk individuals including pregnant women, children aged under 5 years old, those aged over 65 years and Aboriginal people to book in now for a free flu shot. See eligibility poster.

With international borders reopening, increased social mixing and lower exposure to influenza over the past two years, people will have low immunity and be more vulnerable to the virus.

Fluad Quad 2022 now available in pharmacies 

In 2022, pharmacies will have the option to provide NIP funded Fluad Quad to patients aged 65 years and over. The Fluad Quad vaccine has been specifically formulated to invoke a better immune response in this age group. If a pharmacy does not have stock of Fluad Quad vaccine, the patient will be referred to an appropriate provider. This may be a GP or another phar macy with stock of Fluad Quad vaccine.

Influenza FAQs for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people

The NCIRS resource “Influenza vaccination during COVID-19 – FAQs for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people” was updated March 2022. Download poster here.

In case you missed it: COVID-19 winter booster doses 

An additional booster dose will be available in mid-April for people at higher risk of COVID-19 this winter.

This includes people who are 65 years or older, a resident of an aged care or disability care facility, severely immunocompromised or Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander and aged 50 years and older. 

Stay up to date with COVID-19 vaccines

Are your patients up-to-date with their COVID-19 vaccines? This handy visual diagram outlines which vaccines and doses are recommended for each age and population group.

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 7 April 2022, 11:30am (AEDT) | Click link to join

Catch up on previous webinars. 

Immunisation news

Catch up on previous Immunisation Weekly Updates.