Immunisation

Population Health, including immunisation, is a key priority area of SEMPHN. The following is a quick-reference guide for GPs and Practice Nurses on frequently-used immunisation topics, guidelines, tips and support.

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Immunisation service

• Victorian Government Immunisation service (DHHS) 
• The Immunisation Schedule Victoria (July 2020)
• Vaccine Order Forms (DHHS)
• Cold Chain Management (DHHS)
• No Jab, No Play (DHHS)
• No Jab, No Pay (MVEC) 
• Melbourne Vaccine Education Centre (MVEC)
• Royal Children’s Hospital Immunisation Service (MVEC)
• National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance (NCIRS)
• Immunisation Coalition
• AusVax Safety
• Immunisation Policy and Governance (DHHS) 
• Victorian – SAFEVIC (now known as Adverse Events Following Immunisation Clinical Assessment Network AEFI-CAN) 
• Immunisation In-Language (Health Translations)
• Victorian Pharmacists Vaccination Guidelines (DHHS)

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Influenza season 2021

Pre-allocation of influenza vaccine

Pre-allocated orders of Fluad Quad vaccines, for persons aged 65 years and older, have now been delivered to GP clinics, Community Health Centres, Aboriginal Health Centres and Pharmacies included in the pre-allocation. Please note, the government does not have control over private flu distribution and administration.

Flu orders (not including pre-allocated orders) 

Download the new Government-funded vaccine order form.

Please plan and allow 5 standard business days for vaccine deliveries during flu season (consider public holidays when placing your vaccine order). 

Vaccine orders may be adjusted to ensure continuity of stock throughout the influenza season. 

2021 influenza vaccine funded eligible cohorts

• Children aged from six months to less than five years;  
• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged from six months; 
• Pregnant women (at any stage of pregnancy); 
• Adults aged 65 years and over; 
• Persons aged from six months who have certain medical conditions which increase the risk of influenza disease complications; for example, severe asthma, lung or heart disease, low immunity or diabetes.

Vaccine brands supplied and age restrictions

People aged 6 months to less than 5 years: Vaxigrip Tetra® (Sanofi Pasteur) Fluarix® Tetra (GSK)

People aged 5 years to less than 65 years: Vaxigrip Tetra® (Sanofi Pasteur) Fluarix® Tetra (GSK) Afluria® Quad (Seqirus)

People aged 65 years and older: Fluad® Quad (Seqirus)

Key points to remember during the influenza vaccination program:

• Please plan and allow 5 standard business days for vaccine deliveries during flu season (consider public holidays when placing your vaccine order). 
• From 1 March 2021, all vaccine providers will be mandated to report influenza and COVID-19 vaccinations to the Australian Immunisation Register (AIR), then all other National Immunisation Program vaccinations are mandated from 1 July 2021. Reporting to AIR will assist in the appropriate distribution and allocation of influenza vaccine doses based on use. 
• Pregnant women can continue to be vaccinated at any time during pregnancy up until the expiry date on the vaccine. 
• Do not overstock your vaccine fridge as it increases the risk of cold chain breaches.
• Vaccine orders may be adjusted to ensure continuity of stock throughout the influenza season. 

Clinical advice:

• ATAGI advice on seasonal influenza vaccines in 2021
• COVID-19 vaccination – ATAGI advice on influenza and COVID-19 vaccines
• Pneumococcal vaccine recommendations and risk conditions on the National Immunisation Program

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Australian Immunisation Handbook

The Australian Immunisation Handbook provides clinical advice for health professionals on the safest and most effective use of vaccines in their practice.

• Vaccine Preventable Diseases
• Fundamentals of Vaccination
• Vaccination for Special Groups
• Preparing for Vaccination
• Administration of Vaccines
• Documenting vaccines and managing adverse events

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Catch-Up Vaccination

These resources can help plan a catch-up schedule:

• Online Catch-Up Calculator
• Table. Minimum acceptable dose intervals for children <10 years of age
• Catch-up worksheet for children <10 years of age for National Immunisation Program vaccines
• World Health Organization online list of overseas immunisation schedules
• Catch-Up Immunisations in Refugees
• Table. Minimum acceptable age for the 1st dose of scheduled vaccines in infants 
• Table. Number of vaccine doses the child should have received by their current age
• Table. Catch-up schedule for people ≥10 years of age (for vaccines recommended on a population level) 

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Australian Immunisation Register (AIR) for health professionals

• What is the AIR?
• Health Professional Online Service (HPOS) HealthVital IT
• Reports available from the AIR website for General Practice (AIR 10A report shows patients due and overdue immunisations in the general practice) 
• Information for vaccination providers about how to set up access to the Australian Immunisation Register (AIR).
• Vaccination provider information payments
• Help to set up access to the AIR as a delegate of a medical practitioner, midwife or nurse practitioner.
• Register as a vaccination provider
• Register patients on the AIR
• AIR User guide for individuals
• AIR User guide for organisations
• Enhancing data quality of vaccine encounters – tips and tricks guide

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Influenza and Pneumococcal

• Pneumococcal Vaccination Tool (Immunisation Coalition) 
• Commonwealth pneumococcal resources - Clinical decision tree
• Immunisation recommendations for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people living in ACT, NSW, VIC and TAS
• Immunisation recommendations for people with risk factors for certain vaccine-preventable diseases

2021 resources:

• Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) 2021 Influenza Statement on the administration of seasonal influenza vaccines 

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Immunisation webinar recordings 

16 December: SEMPHN immunisation webinar

Now is the time to prepare for the rollout of the COVID vaccine, by reviewing and updating current immunisation systems, policies and procedures within your practice.

 Topics covered:

• Australian Government COVID vaccine policy - at this point in time (Please note this was in December and further information has been released)
• Vaccine Management - cold chain
• Notifying the Australian Immunisation Register

 This event is suitable for anyone involved in immunisation.

Access recording here. Access Passcode: 3zUwy&1H

12 August 2020: Immunisation NIP update with Dr Peter Eizenberg

7 April 2020: SEMPHN hosted a virtual immunisation update for health professionals

This webinar was led by Dr Peter Eizenberg. 

Topics discussed in Part One:

• how COVID-19 may affect the flu season in 2020
• an overview of the 2020 seasonal influenza program
• adult pneumococcal vaccines, and
• maintaining a cool cold chain. 

Topics discussed in Part Two:

• NIP Schedule
• Measles
• AusVaxSafety reporting via SmartVax
• Immunisation resources and tools

Click here to view Part One (approx. 70 minutes) | Click here to view Part Two (approx. 40 minutes)

View changes to the National Immunisation Program (July 2020) in this brief overview presentation from SEMPHN. To view you will need to register and the password is 8B?DkK.+)

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Primary Healthcare Professional Development 

Australian Immunisation Register for vaccination providers

This e-learning program covers 5 modules:

1. Register as a registered vaccination provider
2. Accessing AIR for the first time
3. Submitting information to AIR
4. Overseas Immunisations
5. Immunisation medical exemptions

Sharing Knowledge About Immunisation (SKAI) e-learning module

This e-learning module has been designed:

• to provide you with skills, confidence and resources to help you in your role to recommend vaccination. 
• to help you adapt your clinical communication skills to meet the needs of all parents, whether they are ready to vaccinate, have questions or intend to decline vaccination altogether. 

CDPs are available, it takes less than 90 minutes and a certificate is available to download on completion. 

• Education and Training from NCIRS
• MVEC education portal 
• Nurse Immuniser programs of study (DHHS)

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Immunisation Newsletters and Research

• DHHS Immunisation newsletter – Click to subscribe
• The Weekly Jab NCIRS – Click to subscribe
• Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI)

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Printable Resources for Primary Health Professionals

• Pre-Screening Checklist
• Australian Immunisation Handbook Infographics
• Vaccine Cold Chain Management Checklist 
• NCIRS Immunisation Fact Sheets
• Immunisation Coalition Guides for HCP
• Questions about vaccinations from patients (Aus Gov)
• Zostavax safety information 
• Health Translations – Immunisation in-language 

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Keep an eye on the SEMPHN events calendar for immunisation events, and subscribe to the SEMPHN's Network News for other updates.