Pneumovax 23® - New Revaccination Advice Now Available

In April 2011, following an increase in the notification of adverse events following revaccination of adults with Pneumovax 23®, the Therapeutic Goods Administration recommended that revaccination with Pneumovax 23® should not occur pending the outcome of further investigation and a review of previous advice on its use by the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI).

Updated RotaTeq resources

You can now order new RotaTeq program support materials. A new range of program resources will be available to you from October, free of charge from CSL.

Immunisation Update: Recording of Prevenar 13 as the 4th dose

There have been some issues concerning the lodging of data to the ACIR for the supplementary dose of Prevenar 13. This dose is to be recorded as dose 4 of Prevenar irrespective of how many Prevenar 7 doses the child has had. Questions about how to report data to the ACIR please call 1800 653 809.

Measles Alert for GPs and Emergency Departments

In the past three weeks the Department of Health (DH) has been notified of six confirmed cases of measles in metropolitan Melbourne. Some of these cases have acquired their infection whilst travelling overseas and some are associated with exposure to travellers from overseas during a plane flight.

HEALTH ALERT - Pneumovax23 vaccine second dose suspended

The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) is advising health professionals not to re-administer a second dose of Pneumovax23 vaccine.

Onging concern over delayed immunisations

Nearly a quarter of Australian children are still not fully immunised at five-years-old, with some vaccines being given more than six months late, according to a new study.

Panvax H1N1 Vaccine can continue to be ordered

Panvax® H1N1 Vaccine multi-dose vials can continue to be ordered as required.

Protect baby from pertussis

Carers of newborn infants need to be reminded of the importance of pertussis protection when they present to your clinic.

ATAGI advice - Vaccine Update!

Updated ATAGI advice on the use of pandemic and seasonal influenza vaccines in children <10 years of age

Panvax H1N1 2009 Junior pre-filled syringes

Cease using Panvax H1N1 2009 Junior pre-filled syringes as the vaccine has expired.

Measles Alert for GPs and Emergency Departments 18 August

The Department of Health (DH) has been notified of 2 confirmed cases of measles in travellers who returned from South Africa on 3 August 2010.

Investigation young children following 2010 seasonal trivalent influenza

The TGA has posted on its website a comprehensive statement on the investigation into flu vaccine in children under 5 years.

National Immunisation Committee representation

AGPN is calling for expressions of interest from GPs who are interested in joining the National Immunisation Committee as the AGPN GP representative member. Membership of this committee is
generally for a period of two years and provides an excellent opportunity for the voice of general practice to be heard at the highest level in regard to the implementation of the National Immunisation
Program and immunisation provision in general.

Don’t Blame Parents for Pertussis

An important approach to protecting infants against pertussis is to provide a booster vaccination to close contacts, however this strategy requires a good understanding of infection sources to be effective. The objective of this study was to identify the most important sources of transmission of pertussis infection to infants, regardless of hospitalisation status.

Gardasil for boys

The indication for Gardasil has been extended to include males aged nine to 26 years for the prevention of external genital lesions and infection caused by HPV types 6, 11, 16 and 18, the TGA has announced.

10 dose vaccine pack problems

Infanrix hexa vaccine must be reconstituted by adding the entire contents of the syringe to the Hib vial and shaking until the pellet is completely dissolved.

Intanza product information

This PI attachment has pictures of administering in the deltoid region.

Key changes in suspension of seasonal influenza vaccine in children.

The use of seasonal influenza vaccine in children aged five years and under has been modified as
follows:

Seasonal Flu Vaccine remains suspended.

Media Statement issued by Professor Jim Bishop - Commonwelath Chief Medical Officer

PHERT Medicines Australia Vaccines Industry Group Immunisation Scholarship 2010

The Public Health Education and Research Trust (PHERT), the Public Health Association of Australia?s (PHAA) Trust, is calling for applications for its 2010 post-Honours and post-Masters research scholarship for immunisation, valued at 15,000 dollars. This scholarship is competitive and is only available to financial PHAA members. It is acceptable for applicants to join the PHAA.

Suspension of Seasonal Flu Vaccine in children 5 yrs and younger

Australia’s Chief Medical Officer, Prof. Jim Bishop is advising to stop giving seasonal flu vaccine to children five years of age and under until a cause for the increased number of fever and convulsions in Western Australia is established.

H1N1 update: new DVD, poster and brochure

The Australian Government Chief Medical Officer recently wrote to Australian GPs with an update of the H1N1 epidemic in Australia.

Advice on the Interchangeability of Pandemic H1N1 Influenza Vaccines used in Australia and Overseas

It is not advised to mix swine flu vaccine schedules as there are no data (safety or
immunogenicity), particularly on mixing a non-adjuvanted with an adjuvanted vaccine or a
live attenuated with inactivated vaccine.