Update on the No Jab No Pay ProgramThe No Jab No Pay policycommencedon1January2016withnewimmunisationrequirementsforeligibleparentsclaiming:

•ChildCareBenefit •ChildCareRebate •FamilyTaxBenefitA.

Parentsmusthavetheirchildren(uptoandincluding19yearsofage)fullyimmunisedaccordingtothechildhoodschedule.

Exemptions Conscientiousobjectionandvaccinationobjectiononnon-medicalgroundsarenolongeravalidexemptionfromimmunisationrequirements.PreviousMedicareConscientiousObjectionformsarenownolongeracceptedandtheformhasbeendiscontinuedandremovedfromtheMedicarewebsite.

Childrenwithavalidmedicalcontraindicationorserologicalproofofimmunitytocertaindiseasescancontinuetobeexempt;howeverthesemustberecordedontheupdated2016AustralianChildhoodImmunisationRegister(ACIR)ImmunisationMedicalExemptionform.Nootherformswillbeaccepted.

Assistance and resources for providers:Toassistproviderswithcheckingwhatachildisdue,immunisationhistoriesontheACIRcannowbeviewedfor older children (upto20yearsofage).

The2016Vaccine Order Form is now available to order catch-up vaccines for the No Jab No Pay program.Thisincludesmonovalent meningococcalC,dTpa-IPV,IPOLandmonovalentvaricella.

• VaccineOrderForm:www.sahealth.sa.gov.auimmunisationprovider

• 2016ACIRHistoryForms:http://www.humanservices.gov.au/healthprofessionals

• 2016MedicalExemptionForm:http://www.humanservices.gov.au/health-professionals

• Catchuptablesforchildrenaged10-19yearsofage: http://www.immunise.health.gov.au/internet/immunise/publishing.nsf/Content/fact-sheet-no-jab-no-pay

Parentscanchecktheirchild’simmunisationhistoryby:

• PhoningtheACIRon1800653809.

• AccessingtheirMedicareonlineaccountthroughmyGov.

• AccessingtheExpressPlusMedicaremobileapp.

ThisnewsletterisproducedbytheImmunisationSectionoftheCommunicableDiseaseControlBranch,SAHealth.Ifyouhaveanyfeedback,comments,suggestionsofwhatyouwouldliketoseeinfutureeditions,pleasecontactSaraAlmondonphone1300232272,fax(08)82267197oremailsara.almond@health.sa.gov.au.

Sharp and to the PointNewsletter produced by the Immunisation Section, SA Health

Issue 48March2016

In this issue• FocusOn–Influenza

• ClosingtheGapAboriginalcoveragerates

• NoJab-NoPayPolicyUpdate

• HelpusingtheACIR

• LatestonDTPaat18months

• Updatedimmunisationwebsite

Sharp and to the Point future editionsThiswillbethefinalprintededitionofSharpandthePoint.Futureeditionswillbeavailableonourwebsite,directlyfromthelanding page: www.sahealth.sa.gov.au/immunisationprovider.

Itisanticipatedtheonlineonlyversionwillhaveasimilarlookwith the benefit of providing more timely and prompt disseminationofinformation.Thereisalsotheoptiontoproducemoreeditionsthroughouttheyear,andcanbedownloadedifahardcopyisrequired.Immunisationproviderscancontinuetoprovidecommentsandfeedbackforcontentinclusion to sara.almond@sa.gov.au.

New in 2016 Online Vaccine Ordering!TheVaccineDistributionCentrewillbeintroducinganonlinevaccineorderingsystemin2016.Immunisationproviderswillbeinformedofwhatchangestoexpectbeforethissystemisintroduced.

What’s New on the SA Health Website? The Immunisations for Health Professionals website has recently beenupdatedtobecomemorestreamlined.

Alltheinformationrequiredbyhealthprofessionalsinvolvedindelivering immunisation services is now grouped into four main sections,whichinclude:

Vaccine ordering and storage–informationonvaccineordering(includinginformationonthenewonlinesystemwhenavailable),vaccinestorageandcoldchainrecommendationsinaccordance with the National Vaccine Storage Guidelines.

Immunisation provider information–consolidatesinformationonimmunisationprograms,immunisationcoverageratesandtheImmunisationCalculator.

Reporting to the Immunisation Section–accessinformationon reporting Adverse Events Following Immunisation and potentialexposurestoRabiesorBatLyssavirus.

Immunisation Resources–alllistedresourcesavailable,including resource policies and guidelines toorderordownload.

Further rotating images along the top of the main landing page quicklyaccesstheonlineeducationcourses, Sharp and to the Point including the future electronicversions, and the Immunisation Calculator.

For more information visit: www.sahealth.sa.gov.au/immunisationprovider

The next stage for the website update will be the consumer information found at www.sahealth.sa.gov.au/immunisation.

page 2 Sharp and to the Point IIssue48–March2016

Update on 18 month Diphtheria Tetanus and Pertussis (DTPa) vaccine Previous editions of Sharp and to the Point have discussed the waning immunity of pertussis following the primary course,andtherecommendationforanadditionalchildhoodboosterinthesecondyearoflife.Afunded18monthbooster dose of DTPa will be introduced onto the NIP in 2016.Updatedresourcesreflectingthechangestothe18month schedule point will be sent to providers to coincide withthevaccineavailability.

Reminder –ProvidersneedtobeawarethatifachildhasreceivedadoseofDTPaintheirsecondyearoflife,theirnext immunisationwillbetheDTPa-IPVboosterwhichshould not be given until the child is 4 years of age.

OrderingDTPavaccineTheDTPavaccine(brandnamesInfanrix®andTripacel®) has been included on the Vaccine Order Form,inpreparationofcommencementdate.

ALERT!Be aware of brand similarities when selecting vaccines as there will be three Infanrix brands available on the NIP:

• Infanrix®hexa–forthe6week,4and6monthofage vaccines(DTPa-hepB-IPV-Hib)

• Infanrix®–oneofthevaccinesavailableforthe18months of age DTPa vaccine

• Infanrix®IPV–forthe4yearoldboosterdoseofDTPa-IPV

page 3Sharp and to the Point IIssue48–March2016

Using the Australian Childhood Immunisation Register• DetailscanbeprovidedtotheAustralianChildhoodImmunisationRegister(ACIR)onvaccinationsgiventochildrenandyoungindividualsunder20yearsofage.

• VaccinationsgiventoachildoverseascanonlyberecordedontheACIRiftheyaresubmittedbyavaccinationproviderpracticinginAustralia.

• Datashouldbesubmittedonweeklybasisusing:

– MedicareOnline:asoftwareapplicationthatallowsthetransmissionofACIRdataviathevaccinationprovider’sdesktopsoftware.ContactMedicareOnlineformoreinformation

– HealthProfessionalsOnlineServices(HPOS):approvedvaccination providers can submit immunisation details usingtheIdentifyChildandRecordEncounterfunctionthroughtheACIRsecureareawithinHPOS

– Manually:bycompletingeitheranImmunisationencounterform(IM002)oranImmunisationHistoryform(IM013)

Immunisation histories cannot be submitted via the phone to the ACIR

RegisteringtobecomeavaccinationproviderGeneralpractitionersregisteredasMedicareproviderscanusetheirMedicareprovidernumbertosubmitdatatotheACIR.Otherindividuals or organisations will need to register as a vaccination provider and obtain a registration number to send immunisation datatotheACIR.ToregistercompleteanApplication to register as a vaccination provider available at: http://www.humanservices.gov.au/health-professionals/forms/im004

HowtoaccuratelyupdateanACIR immunisation historyLogontotheACIRviaHPOSusingtheproviderimmunisationregistrationnumber,andcompletethefollowingsteps:

Step 1

Select the appropriate drop down box

Step 2Addthechild’shistoryaccordingtotheschedulepoint(e.g.attwomonths,fourmonthsorfouryearsetc.)atwhichthevaccinesweregiven.Byselectingtheallocatedschedulepointyou will be given the option to select specific vaccines given at thatspecificschedulepoint.Childrenonacatch-upschedulemaybeolderthantheseschedulepoints.

Step 3

Ifthechildrequiresacatch-upyoucanselectmorethanoneschedulepoint(e.g.sixmonthsand12months)inthesameencounter.Theseencounterswillneedtoberecordedindividuallybyselectingthefirstschedulepoint(e.g.sixmonths)andthenselectingthenextschedulepoint(e.g. 12months)andsubmittingtheencounter.

Extra steps needed when entering a history for an Aboriginal child

Step 1

MakesureyouselectAboriginalorTorresStraitIslanderfor all children that identify as Aboriginal when entering each immunisationencounter.

Step 2

Selectthe‘Other’boxwhenenteringadditionalvaccines(hepatitisA,Prevenar13®andinfluenza)forallAboriginalchildren.

Step 3

EntertheinfluenzavaccineforallAboriginalchildrenreceivingthefluvaccineontotheACIR.

Please note: When ‘Other’ is selected many different combinations of vaccine brand names will be available. As many names look similar, please ensure the correct brand name has been selected. Incorrect brand names can result in children remaining overdue and will impact on the parent’s and provider payments and on coverage rates.

ACIRcontactdetails• Phone:1800653809forACIRgeneralenquires

• Phone:1800650039forACIRinternethelpdesk

• Fax:0892544810

• Email : acir@humanservices.gov.au

• Web site: http://www.humanservices.gov.au/health-professionals/services/australian-childhood-immunisation-register/

Around the worldMalariaVaccineTheStrategicAdvisoryGroupofExpertsonImmunization(SAGE)andtheMalariaPolicyAdvisoryCommittee,whichprovideadvicetotheWorldHealthOrganization(WHO)supportapilotimplementationprojectoftheworld’sfirstavailablemalariavaccineinselectedSub-SaharanAfricancountries.

ThevaccineiseffectiveagainstAfrica’smostprevalentmalariaparasite,Plasmodium falciparum and is being considered as complementarytocurrentmalariacontrolmethods.ManufacturedbyGlaxoSmithKline(GSK),thevaccineisgivenasthreedosesatonemonthintervalscommencingatfivemonthsofage,withafourthdoseat18monthsofage.ItiscurrentlynotlicensedandGSKhavenotyetmadesubmissionstoAfricancountries.

For further information visit: http://www.who.int/bulletin/volumes/94/1/16-010116.pdf?ua=1

InfluenzaUpdateoninfluenzainSAReportfromtheDiseaseSurveillanceand

InvestigationSection,CommunicableDisease

ControlBranch(CDCB),SAHealth

Influenza,commonlyknownastheflu,isaninfectionofthenose,throatandlungscausedbytheinfluenzaAorB(orrarelyC)viruses.Itishighlyinfectious,andsymptomsincluderapidonsetoffever,headache,muscleaches,fatigue,sneezing,runningnose,sorethroatandcough.Onceinfected,symptomstakeonaveragetwodaystoappear(rangeonetofourdays).

InAustralia,seasonalinfluenzaofvaryingseverityoccurseveryyear,usuallybetweenMayandSeptember.Influenzaisanotifiable condition under the South Australian Public Health Act 2011.Thedualnotificationsystemcombineslaboratorytestresultswithclinicalinformationfrommedicalpractitioners.

During2015,11,657casesofinfluenzawerereportedinSouthAustralia,higherthanboththepreviousrecordof11,054casesinthe2014andthe2009pandemicyear(10,741cases).ThedominantflutypewasinfluenzaB(56%),whichdiffersgreatlyfromthe2014season(8%),butcloselyresemblesthe2013seasonforoverallproportionofinfluenzaB(57%).HowevertheproportionofinfluenzaBvariedthroughout2015;beginningat19%inJanuaryandpeakingat75%inJune. ThepeaknumberofnotificationsforinfluenzaBoccurredduringAugust2015,whilstthedistributionofinfluenzaA wasbimodalwiththelargerpeakoccurringduringSeptember(seeFigure1).

In2015,thepercentageofcasesaged65yearsandolderwasequaltothatin2014(18%),howeverwashigherinthoseaged<10years(25%in2015comparedwith20%in2014).Theaveragepercentageofcasesforthepreviousfiveyears(2010-2014)aged65yearsandolderwas11%(range2%-18%), andfor<10yearswas25%(range20%to28%).

Overall,66deathshavebeennotifiedin2015sofar(investigationsareongoing),whichisequaltothenumberreportedin2014andhigherthanpreviousyears.From2009 to 2013 deaths have ranged from three to 18; the latter occurringinthe2009pandemicyear.

Figure1:NotifiedcasesofInfluenzabyYearandMonthofNotification1January2009to31December2015for SouthAustralia.

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page4 Sharp and to the Point IIssue48–March2016

Helpfulreminders• RefertotheAnnual Funded Influenza Program – South

Australian Schedule 2016 forafulllistoftheeligiblegroups.

• LookoutfortheATAGI2016statementoninfluenzavaccines on the Immunise Australia site: http://www.immunise.health.gov.au/internet/immunise/publishing.nsf/Content/home

• Visitwww.sahealth.sa.gov.au/immunisationtraining for information on the Understanding Influenza and the Influenza Vaccination Programonlineeducationcourse.

References2015ATAGIBulletinwww.immunise.health.gov.au/internet/immunise/publishing.nsf/Content/atagi-meet58bulletinProductandconsumerinformationonQIV https://www.ebs.tga.gov.au/ebs/picmi/picmirepository.nsf/

page5Sharp and to the Point IIssue48–March2016

Quadrivalent influenza vaccine on the NIP Nationally,influenzaBattributedtoapproximately60%ofthenotifiedinfluenzacasesforthe2015season.The2016fundedinfluenzaprogramvaccinewillbeaQuadrivalentInfluenzaVaccine(QIV)whichhastheadvantageofprotectionagainstanadditionalinfluenzaBvirus.

Therecommendedantigencompositionforthe2016influenzaseason is the following four strains:

• A/California/7/2009(H1N1)-likevirus

• A/HongKong/4801/2014(H3N2)-likevirus

• B/Phuket/3073/2013-likevirus

• B/Brisbane/60/2008-likevirus

QIV vaccine brandsFluQuadri™ has two formulations available:• Juniorformulationis0.25mls(sixmonthsto35months ofageinclusive).Thiswillonlybeavailableinpacksoffive.

• Adultandchildformulationis0.5mls(threeyearsofage andolder).

Fluarix®Tetraislicencedforadultsandchildrenthreeyears andolderonly.

• TheFluarix®TetrapresentationfortheNIPwillbeinprefilledsyringeswithseparateneedlessuppliedinthepack.

Private stock of Fluarix ®Tetra may be presented as a prefilled syringe with a fixed needle which contains natural rubber latex in the removable needle shield.

What’s new in influenza vaccine research JournalArticle:InfluenceofStatinsonInfluenzaVaccineResponseinElderlyIndividualsInitialstudiesreportthatstatins(aclassofmedicationsusedtotreathighbloodcholesterol)mayreducetheimmuneresponsetotheinfluenzavaccine.Thisisofconcern,particularlyfortheelderlywhoarealreadyatahigherriskofinfluenzadiseasecomplicationsandmortality.Theauthorsconcludethatifadditionalstudiessupportthesefindings,vaccineswithanadjuvant,orhigh-doseinfluenzavaccines,mayneedtobeconsideredforelderlyindividualsonstatins.

The full article is available at: http://jid.oxfordjournals.org/content/early/2015/10/15/infdis.jiv456.full.pdf+html

NewwaytodelivertheinfluenzavaccineAsoliddoseinfluenzavaccineiscurrentlybeingdevelopedthatwouldbedeliveredusingaSolidDoseInjector(SDI®)deliverydevice.TheSDImakersspecifythatthedeviceusesaspringmechanismtopushthesoliddrugintotheskintotheunderlyingtissue,whereitdissolvesandisabsorbedintothebloodstream.Developersofthesoliddoseinfluenzavaccinestate the potential advantages of using this technology are rapidmanufactureofvaccines,thepotentialtoremovetheneedforcold-chainstorageandaneedlefreedeliverysystem.

For more information visit:http://glide-technologies.com/news/glide-technologies-announces-collaboration-with-cilian-ag-to-develop-novel-solid-dose-recombinant-influenza-vaccine-2/

http://www.in-pharmatechnologist.com/Ingredients/Needle-free-injection-device-a-winner.

It is recommended that all pregnant women receive influenza vaccine. Influenza vaccine is funded and safe to administer at any stage during pregnancy.

Aboriginal children aged six months to less than five years of age are eligible for free influenza vaccination.

To maintain the cold chain immunisation providers are reminded to:

• unpack,checkandplacevaccinesinstoragefridgesimmediately on delivery

• manuallycheckandrecordtheminimum,currentandmaximum temperatures twice daily

• haveabatteryoperatedminimum/maximumthermometer asabackupintheeventofapoweroutage

• set data loggers to record every 10 minutes

• ensuresufficientnumbersof‘indate’coldchainmonitorsare located within the fridge

• haveaback-upupplaninplaceincaseofpoweroutages

• never place the vaccine storage fridge in direct sunlight or in a hot room

• allowairtocirculatearoundthesidesandbackofthevaccine storage fridge

• ensurefridgesanddataloggersareservicedevery12months.

If your fridge is below 2°C or above 8°C when checked , immediately isolate all vaccines, place a sign on your fridge “Do Not Use” and contact the Immunisation Section on 1300 232 272 as soon as possible during business hours.

For more information visit the Vaccine Ordering and Storage pageoftheSAHealthwebsiteavailableat: www.sahealth.sa.gov.au/immunisationprovider

HowtoorderforafortnightlydeliveryVaccinewastageduetooverorderingcanbeavoidedifimmunisationprovider’sorderonlywhatisrequiredfora twoweekperiodincludinganextra10%toallowforbusierthanexpectedtimes.

Example formula to order vaccines Dosesatbeginningoffortnightminusdosesremaining=numberdosestoorderplus10%

Example:

Infanrixhexa:35dosesatbeginningoffortnight,5dosesremainingattheendofthefortnightindicating30dosesused.

Calculation:

1)35–5=30

2)30+10%(3doses)=33doses

page6 Sharp and to the Point IIssue48–March2016

Keeping on top of the Cold ChainThe introduction of the No Jab No PayprograminJanuary2016,andtheadditionalinfluenzavaccinesforthe2016influenzaseason,willresultinincreasednumbersofvaccinesbeingstoredbyimmunisationproviders.Theimpactoftheseprogramsonvaccinestoragecapacitywillneedtobeconsideredbyallproviderswhenorderingfortnightlydeliveries.Fridgestabilityisimpactedbyoverorderingor“stockpiling”vaccinesinthefridgeascirculatingairiscompromisedduetolackofinternalspace.Allstaffinvolved in vaccine storage should be familiar with the recommendations in the National Vaccine Storage Guidelines – Strive for 5.

Due to over ordering by providers, it is roughly estimated that 20 000 doses* of influenza vaccine were discarded in South Australia at the end of the 2015 influenza season.

* Scaling up of responses assuming the same wastage per provider. Responses were received from 346 providers (35%) indicating 7 000 doses were discarded.

Become part of the future of vaccine safety surveillanceTheUniversityofAdelaideisevaluatingthefirstadvancedSMSvaccine safety surveillance system covering all vaccines available inAustraliawithafundedstudycalledSTARSS(StimulatedTelephoneAssistedRapidSafetySurveillance).

TheSTARSSsystemusesSMStextmessagestogetherwiththemost advanced data automated extraction technology available in Australia to find out when a person who received a vaccine hassoughthealthadviceafterthevaccination.

For the first time it is possible to automatically extract vaccinationdata,sendSMStextsanddetectsuchSMSresponseswithinonehourofthepatientreceivingthevaccination.

STARSShasalreadystartedrecruitingGPpracticesandcouncilimmunisationclinicstojointheresearchinSouthAustralia,VictoriaandWesternAustralia.ThecollaborativestudyinvolvestheNationalCentreforImmunisationResearchandSurveillance(NCIRS),SAHealth,WAHealthandtheMurdochChildren’sResearchInstitute.

Further information on participating in this important study is available at: http://www.adelaide.edu.au/trials/starss/join- the-research/

TojointheSTARSSstudy,pleasecontactDrGabriellaLincoln,ProjectManagerfortheSTARSSStudyon0881617030or email starsshelp@adelaide.edu.au to arrange a meeting or teleconference.

page 7Sharp and to the Point IIssue48–March2016

TheAboriginalImmunisationProjectcommencedinAugust2013.TheaimoftheprojectistoimproveimmunisationcoverageratesforAboriginaland/orTorresStraitIslanderchildreninSouthAustralia.

Theprojectfocusistoassistimmunisationprovidersidentifyandfollowupoverduechildren.Aremindersystemhasbeendeveloped to notify parents of upcoming schedule points and allencountersforAboriginalchildrenenteredontotheACIR arecheckedforaccuracy.AcollaborativeapproachhasbeenthekeytoensuringAboriginalchildrenacrossSouthAustraliaareapriorityforallimmunisationproviders.

Projectstrategiesinclude:• Developmentofaprecall/recallremindersystem.

• EnsuringaccuracyofalltheAboriginal/TorresStraitIslanderACIRrecords(datacleaning).

• Establishmentofrelationshipswithkeyagenciesandimmunisationproviders.

• Promotionoftimelinesstocommunityandproviders.

• Promotionoftheimportanceofinfluenzavaccination.

• EducationtoAboriginalHealthWorkerCertificate3and 4students.

Sincethecommencementoftheprojecttherehavebeenincreases in Aboriginal immunisation coverage rates across SouthAustraliaparticularlyinthe12-15monthagegroup.

Source: Australian Childhood Immunisation RegisterAnnualised data for all children for the March, June, September, and December assessment quarters*From quarter ending 31 December 2014, meningococcal C (given at 12 months), and dose 2 measles, mumps, rubella (MMR) and dose 1 varicella (given as MMRV at 18 months) was included in the definition of fully immunised for the 24-27 month cohort.

TheAboriginalImmunisationProjectisfundedthroughSAHealthClosetheGapandisduetocease30June2016. Anindependentexternalevaluationhasbeenundertaken toassistindeterminingthenextstep.

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Percentage of Aboriginal children fully immunised in South Australia aged 12 months to 63 months

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Closing the Gap on Aboriginal immunisation rates

What’s new in managing

hepatitis BNewHepatitisBCommunity Prescriber ProgramSouthAustralianGPsmaynowapplyforaccreditationtoprescribe highly specialised drugs for the treatment of people withchronichepatitisB(CHB)inacommunitysetting.

Tobeaccredited,medicalpractitionersmustcompleteatwo-daycoursedeliveredbytheAustralasianSocietyofHIVMedicine(ASHM)titled‘HepatitisB:AdvancedManagementinPrimaryCare’.Thecourseincludesboththewritingofinitiationandmaintenanceprescriptionswhenlinkedtoaspecialistpracticinginthehospitalsetting.

Aninitialgroupof14HepatitisBs100CommunityPrescribershavenowbeenaccreditedinSouthAustralia.Furtherinformation including contact details are available at: http://www.sahealth.sa.gov.au/wps/wcm/connect/public+content/sa+health+internet/clinical+resources/clinical+programs/programs+for+the+prescribing+and+supply+of+medicines/highly+specialised+drug+programs/hepatitis+b+community+prescriber+program

No‘healthycarriers’ofhepatitisBSAHeathhaslaunchedanewsixminutevideoprovidingadviceforGPsindiagnosing,managingandcontacttracingpatientswithchronichepatitisB(CHB),toassistinpreventingseriousliverdisease.

Itisnowknownthatpeoplewhowerepreviouslyconsideredtohave‘unresolvedhepatitisBviruscarrierstate’infacthaveCHB.CHBrequireslifelongrecallandmonitoringfordiseaseprogression,evenwhenasymptomatic.ItisestimatedthatSouthAustraliahas14,400peoplewithCHB,6,600(46%)whoareundiagnosed.CurrentclinicalguidelinesrecommendthatpatientswithCHBaremonitoredatleastannuallyby theirGPfordiseaseprogressionandsuitabilityforanti-viraltreatment.

ThisvideoprovidesclinicaladvicefromtheRoyalAdelaideHospital,ViralHepatitisCentreCo-DirectorsDrEdmundTse(HeadofHepatology)andDrDavidShaw(HeadofInfectiousDiseases),MargeryMilner(ViralHepatitisNurse)andDrSamElliott,aGPandHepatitisBs100CommunityPrescriber.

To view the video visit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0CP5Wk-VYU0

SAHealthViralHepatitisNursescanalsoprovideGPswithadviceandassistancewithGPManagementPlansforpatientswithCHB(evenwhenasymptomatic)includingsupportforreferraltospecialists.

For contact details visit: http://www.sahealth.sa.gov.au/hepatitisnurse

For more information please contact Immunisation Section on 1300 232 272 or by emailing sara.almond@sa.gov.au www.sahealth.sa.gov.au/immunisationprovider

Public I2-A1 © Department for Health and Ageing, Government of South Australia. All rights reserved. ISSN: 1836-0092. Printed March 2016. 16022.1

Q During a power outage, what steps can be taken to reduce a vaccine purpose built fridge with glass doors from heating up too quickly?

AIf there is no other monitored alternative to vaccine storage during a power outage; the following steps may assist in maintaining the cold chain during the outage:

• Covertheglassdoorwithinsulatingmaterial(cardboard,bubblewraporablanket)

• Placeicebricksintheemptyspaceswithinthefridge(takecarenottoplacethemalongsidethevaccines)

• Keepthedoorclosed.

For further information refer to page 30 of the National Vaccine Storage Guidelines – Strive for 5.

QIs it necessary to administer a quadrivalent influenza vaccine to immunocompetent adults who have already received a trivalent influenza vaccine previously in the same season?

A No.Itisnotrecommendedtoadministeranadditionalinfluenzavaccineifonehasalreadybeenadministered intheinfluenzaseason.

Questions and Answers

www.ausgoal.gov.au/creative-commons

The following changes in the National Immunisation Program have resulted in the campaign no longer reflecting current recommendations.

• Changeofschedulepointfordose2MMRcontainingvaccineto18monthsfrom3.5yearsofage(withtheintroductionoftheMMRVvaccineinJuly2013)

• Introduction of DTPa first childhood booster at 18 months of age; resulting in change of recommended second booster from3.5yearsto4yearsofagein2016.

The following changes in the National Immunisation Program have resulted in the campaign no longer reflecting current recommendations.

• Changeofschedulepointfordose2MMRcontainingvaccineto18monthsfrom3.5yearsofage(withtheintroductionoftheMMRVvaccineinJuly2013)

• Introduction of DTPa first childhood booster at 18 months of age; resulting in change of recommended second booster from3.5yearsto4yearsofagein2016.

The immunisation promotional campaign Big Help for Little Adventurers, ceased on the 31 December 2015. A storybook and reminder card was mailed out to parents with the key message to promote booster immunisations from three and a half years of age before their child started kindy. Stickers and masks of the storybook characters were also available to immunisation providers to assist in promoting the campaign.

Impact of the strategy of SA immunisation coverage ratesPriortothecommencementofthestrategyin2011,theimmunisationratesforfullyimmunised60-63monthcohort inSouthAustraliawere86%(basedonACIRannualiseddatafor2010).Inthefollowingyearsafterthecampaignlaunch,coverageratessteadilyincreasedto91%in2013;arate whichhasremainedstableforthelastthreeyears.

Source: Australian Childhood Immunisation RegisterAnnualised data for all children for the March, June, September, and December assessment quarters

4 year old immunisation promotional campaign ceased

ReminderImmunisation providers are reminded that children who have received all their vaccines on time and are now due for their four year old boosters-should have already received 2dosesofMMR;thefirstat12monthsofageandthesecondat18monthsofage withintheMMRVvaccine.ThesechildrendonotneedafurtherdoseofMMR.

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Percentage of children fully immunised in South Australia aged 60 months to less than 63 months

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