Immunisation weekly update – 6 January 2021

6 January 2021

Authorised Nurse Immuniser Update!  

Policy directive update, December 2020

TheAuthorised Nurse Immuniser Policy Directive outlines the mandatory conditions which specially trained registered nurses and midwives must comply with to ensure effective and efficient immunisation service delivery. 

Legislation update, December 2020

The NSW legislation Authority for Registered Nurses and Midwives  has been updated. Notable changes include:

• Mandatory reporting to the AIR has been included (ahead of the legislation coming into effect in 2021).
• Recognition of HESA accredited immunisation education programs (Health Education Services Australia) which include:
• Australian College of Nursing Immunisation for Health Practitioners (307)
• Benchmarque Group Immunisation Endorsement Program

Why is COVID-19 vaccine not included in the new legislation?

Inclusion of the COVID-19 vaccine under the Authority cannot occur until it has been listed in the Commonwealth Poisons Schedule as a poison or restricted substance. The Authority will be further updated when that occurs.

Zostavax vaccine safety advisory

New TGA Safety Advice: Zostavax vaccine  was published on 22 December 2020 on the TGA website regarding Zostavax and risk of disseminated varicella zoster virus (vaccine strain) infection.

Zostavax is a live, attenuated varicella-zoster virus vaccine that is used to prevent shingles in older patient.

Healthcare professionals should carefully assess patients for potentially immunocompromising conditions. The Australian Immunisation Handbook  has recently been updated to provide more detailed guidance on the use of Zostavax in patients who are immunocompromised or on immunosuppressive therapy.

2021 flu vaccine orders

In order to receive 2021 flu vaccine orders, practices are required to action the following:

1. Complete mandatory flu vaccine survey
2. Confirm receipt of vaccine delivery

If both have been completed, no further action is required.

Why is the above information required?

2021 influenza vaccines will not be released  to providers who fail to complete the NSW Health flu vaccine survey. The deadline for survey completion was 11 December 2020 – those who have not yet completed the survey must complete survey now.

Immunisation providers are required to confirm receipt of a vaccine delivery to ensure NSW Health can account for all vaccine dose delivered to immunisation providers.  Subsequent orders cannot be placed if the last delivery has not been confirmed on the  NSW Vaccine Centre webpage.

How do I “confirm receipt of vaccine delivery”?

1. Check your vaccine delivery
2. Log into the NSW Vaccine Centre webpage
3. Select ‘confirm receipt of a delivery’
4. If there is a problem with the delivery, do not confirm the delivery, and call NSW Vaccine Centre on 1300 656 132

See NSW Vaccine Centre User Guide  on page 19 for detailed instructions on how to confirm receipt of a delivery.

MumBubVax

The Australian Department of Health has provided the following advice about this new resource:

A new evidence-based communication package called MumBubVax has been developed by a global team of researchers partnered with the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute.

The MumBubVax package includes: 

• MumBubVaxVaxChat eLearning modules for providers 
• MumBubVax website for expectant parents 

The MumBubVax eLearning modules aim to support healthcare providers in communicating confidently and effectively with expectant parents about vaccination during pregnancy and for babies after delivery. 

The MumBubVax website for expectant parents is designed to support conversations about vaccination during pregnancy and for babies after delivery. This includes independently assessed information about influenza, pertussis and Hepatitis B vaccines included on the National Immunisation Program and answers to common questions. 

The Australian Department of Health supports the package which can be used in primary care or maternity services.

Download the new NSW Immunisation Schedule – July 2020 
Keep up to date with Immunisation information on our PHN Immunisation webpage
Keep up to date with coronavirus information on our PHN Coronavirus webpage.