Nurse News

Reaccreditation ceased for Nurse Immunisers

Following a review of the regulation of Nurse Immunisers in Victoria the Minister for Health has approved Immunisation as an area of approved practice. This approval enables the Nurses Board of Victoria (NBV) to endorse Nurse Immunisers effective from 1 January 2010. As a result of these changes initiated by the NBV, a Nurse Immuniser will no longer be required to reaccredit every three years.

However it is the professional responsibility for all practicing nurses and midwives to maintain their competence in their chosen area of practice.

For further information in relation to this matter, please contact either the NBV on telephone (03) 8635 1259 or the Immunisation Program on 1300 882 008.

NB. Nurse immunisers will no longer receive a personally posted copy of the immunisation newsletter as the Immunisation Program will not have access to a database of nurse immuniser names and addresses.

Look for the newsletter on-line at: www.health.vic.gov.au/immunisation

 

Seasonal flu vaccine in 2010

The free, expanded eligibility for seasonal influenza vaccine program will commence from March 2010.

People eligible to receive free seasonal influenza vaccine annually from 2010 are:

•  65 years of age
• Pregnant women
• Indigenous people from 15 years of age
• Residents of nursing homes and other long-term care facilities
• All people from six months of age and over with conditions predisposing to severe influenza
  • Cardiac disease
  • Chronic respiratory conditions
  • Other chronic illnesses requiring regular medical follow-up or hospitalisations
  • Chronic neurological conditions
  • Impaired immunity
  • Long term aspirin therapy in children

 

Each medical centre, community health and Aboriginal health service will receive a pre-allocated proportion of flu vaccine either late February or early March in 2010.

After the delivery of the initial flu vaccine, a medical service can place further flu vaccine orders. Ordering for 2010 requirements will be based on your consideration of the expanded eligible people as listed. Use the standard vaccine order form found online at: http://www.health.vic.gov.au/immunisation

Please note: No flu vaccine orders will be accepted prior to March 2010. Pneumovax23® vaccine will also be pre-allocated for the initial delivery. Clinics can 'opt out' of the initial allocated supply by calling the Immunisation Program on 1300 882 008 for e.g. if the clinic is temporarily closed or the delivery timing does not suit for receipt of vaccine. The Immunisation Program must be informed as soon as possible if a clinic is to 'opt out' of the initial allocation system. Clinics can commence individual flu and Pneumovax23® vaccine ordering from 1 March 2010.

 

Australia's influenza vaccine composition 2010

The formulation of influenza vaccines for use in Australia is determined each year by the Australian Influenza Vaccine Committee (AIVC) based on information and recommendations from the World Health Organization (WHO).

Following recommendations from the WHO and the AIVC, the influenza vaccine for the Australian 2010 influenza season contains the following three virus strains:

 

A (H1N1): an A/California/7/2009 (H1N1) - like strain,

A (H3N2): an A/Perth/16/2009 (H3N2) - like strain,

B: a B/Brisbane/60/2008 - like strain

Reference: www.influenzaspecialistgroup.org.au/

 

HPV vaccine catch-up program

The supply of free HPV vaccine for the catch-up program for females between 13 and 26 years of age stops on 31 December 2009.

 

What do I do with left over Gardasil® vaccine from 1 January 2010?

Gardasil vaccine doses remaining in your vaccine refrigerator can be used to complete any vaccine course for young women between 13 and 26 years of age.

 

Continue to report doses to the National HPV Vaccination Register

Continue to report doses given to the National HPV Vaccination Register regardless of using either HPV vaccine brands Cervarix® or Gardasil® and regardless of whether the vaccine was free or privately purchased. This will provide the following benefits to the individual:

1. Certificate of completion will be issued after all three injections have been notified and recorded by the Register

2. Reminders will be sent, to participants of the schools program, if a dose has been missed

3. Future updates about boosters, if required, by monitoring the effectiveness of the HPV vaccine

4. The government can monitor how the HPV vaccine program is working and measure the effect of the Program on cervical cancer.

 

How to claim payment for HPV vaccinations

Payment for notifications received by the Register will be made to GPs who have registered and provided their bank account details. GPs who have not already registered can access GP Registration Forms at:

http://www.hpvregister.org.au/health-professionals/ or phone the HPV Register for assistance on 1800 478 734 (1800 HPV REG).

 

Primary School Immunisation Certificate

Changes to the requirements for school entry immunisation status certificates

 

Under the new Public Health and Wellbeing Act 2008, which comes into force 1 January 2010, there remains an ongoing legal requirement for parents to provide an immunisation status certificate when enrolling their child into primary school. The new certificate is simply a current list of vaccines the child has received with the dates the vaccines were given. In the event a child is not immunised due to parental objection, then the certificate will need to indicate this information from the immunisation provider.

Homeopathic immunisation is not a recognised form of immunisation and is not acceptable under the legislation.

The certificates will be presented in a variety of formats and may also have a varying range of schedules and vaccine names. The certificate will most commonly be provided from the Australian Childhood Immunisation Register (ACIR) and practice and council software programs.

However the certificate must include:

∙ child's name ∙ address

∙ date of birth ∙ name of vaccine with corresponding date of administration

 

Free pertussis prevention for parents ends

The free Boostrix® vaccine to provide a boost for parents of a newborn baby to protect against pertussis infection ends on 31 December 2009.

 

The time limited free vaccine program funded by the Victorian State government was in response to the epidemic of pertussis experienced in the state and nationally. A single boost with a pertussis containing vaccine continues to be recommended for adults who will be in close contact with babies. A vaccine can be purchased privately for anyone wishing to protect themselves from pertussis. The Australian Immunisation Handbook 9th Edition, page 232 details recommendations for adults. In summary the recommended groups are as follows:

∙ Adults planning a pregnancy or for both parents as soon as possible after delivery of the infant

- Other household members to be sure pertussis vaccine is up to date

- Grandparents and babysitters

∙ Adults working with young children such as childcare workers

∙ All healthcare workers

∙ Any adult receiving a booster of diphtheria and tetanus should be encouraged to include a pertussis boost using a combination dTp vaccine.

 

Protect your baby from whooping cough (pertussis) pamphlet can be ordered for parents of a newborn baby from the following web link:

http://www.health.vic.gov.au/immunisation/provider-forms/order_resources_online

 

The Year 10 secondary school program for Boostrix vaccine started in January 2004. Therefore younger parents may have already received a Boostrix vaccine and will not require a further dose after the birth of their baby.

Breastfeeding is not a contraindication for the vaccine for the mother and the vaccine given to a breastfeeding woman is not a contraindication to the infant receiving their scheduled vaccines.

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