Click here to download the Immunisation Saves Lives logo.

• Improving Childhood Immunisation Coverage Rates - A guide for Division staff (October 08)
• Improving Childhood Immunisation Coverage Rates - A guide for Practice staff (October 08)
• Improving Childhood Immunisation Coverage Rates - Using the ACIR 32A Report: A guide for Division Staff (October 08)
• ACIR Update 32A Database

Click here to view the Queensland Health RotaTeq Ready Reckoner

The Commonwealth Government has included rotavirus vaccines on the National Immunisation Program.

All babies born from 1 May 2007 are eligible for funded vaccine using RotaTeq® in Queensland.  RotaTeq® is an oral vaccine. There is no catch up for this vaccination. 

It is important that the following schedule is adhered to for administering RotaTeq®

* The upper age limit for receipt of the first dose of Rotateq is 12.9 weeks, that is up to the anniversary of the 13th week of age. The 2nd dose of vaccine should preferably be given by 28 weeks of age to allow for minimum interval of 4 weeks prior to receipt of 3rd dose, and the upper age limit for either the second or third doses is 32.9 weeks, that is by the anniversary of the 33rd week.

For more detailed information on rotavirus vaccines:
NCIRS Fact Sheet - Rotavirus Vaccines - Information for GPs & Immunisation Providers (June 2007)

The calculator is a computer-based system that uses the National Immunisation Program schedule. It recommends doses of vaccine be given at specific ages. If doses of vaccine are delayed or missed, the calculator will assist in providing a 'catch-up' schedule for future vaccine doses.

Who is it for?

The calculator is for Australian children up to their 7th birthday and on the funded component of the National Immunisation Program Schedule.

Click here to view the SA Catch-up Calculator website

Click here to view the Department of Human Services (Victoria) – The Quick Catchup Guide

The Quick Guide: Catch-Up Immunisation has been developed for Victorian immunisation providers to create a catch-up immunisation schedule for people presenting with no immunisation history ensuring that they are immunised appropriately and recalled in a timely manner for their next immunisations.

Click here to access resources in other languages via the Department of Human Services Victoria website. Please note that there may be some vaccine funding differences between states.

• To receive the SIP for immunisations completed prior to the 1st October 2008, practices will need to ensure that this data is sent to ACIR by the middle of December 2008.
• The SIP payment of $18.50 for completing each age appropriate immunisations ceased on 1 October 2008.
• The $3 ACIR reporting payment remains, as does the Outcomes Bonus payment of $3.50.  The Outcomes Bonus payment is paid to practices with immunisation coverage rates over 90%.
• Immunisations up to and including the 30th September will attract the SIP if the notification is received by ACIR by middle of December 2008.

In the recent Federal Budget changes to the payment of the Maternity Immunisation Allowance were announced. 
The allowance will be paid in a 50/50 split at 18 months and 4y 3m age.  Application period is when child is 18-24 months age for part 1, and 4yrs 3 months to 5 years age for part 2.
The children affected by the change are:

• Those born from July 2007 onwards;
• Those born from Jan 07 to June 07 who have not claimed the allowance by 31/12/2007.
  

Children in group 1 will reach ACIR Cohort 3 (60-63 months age measure) in the December 2012 quarter.
Children in group 2 will reach ACIR Cohort 3 (60-63 months age measure) in the June 2012 quarter.

• Due to a worldwide shortage of Comvax vaccine, a new schedule was implemented in Queensland from 1 March 2008.

• Queensland Health has developed a range of resources to support this schedule change.  Divisions and practices can contact Qld Health on 07 3234 1500 to order these resources.

Japanese encephalitis vaccine used in Australia is no longer being manufactured therefore supplies will be limited.  The Torres Strait communities will be covered but the important messages for general practice and travellers are:

• Vaccine is only being provided through recognised travel vaccination organisations and to them through pharmacy wholesalers.  Travellers are also prioritised on an assessment of risk of exposure – highest risk being for those spending a month or more in a rural area in an endemic country with certain extra conditions and the first priority will be those Australian citizens required to travel on government business or on behalf of the government.
• Prevention, prevention, prevention - use insect repellent, wear protective clothing, avoid the outdoors when mosquitos are at their most active, ensure mosquito nets/insect screens are well-fitted.

Please click here to get more information.

• Queensland Health - Immunisation 
• For Queensland Health Publications call 07 3234 1053
• Immunise Australia Program

General Practice Immunisation Incentives Scheme - Medicare Australia

The General Practice Immunisation Incentives (GPII) Scheme was introduced in 1998 to support the central role GPs play in preventive health care through immunisation.

The GPII Scheme provides financial incentives to GPs who provide immunisation services to children under the age of seven years, according to the National Immunisation Program (NIP).


One of the primary aims of the GPII Scheme is to encourage at least 90% of practices to fully immunise 90% of children below seven years of age attending their practice.


Through Medicare Australia, the GPII Scheme provides statistical reports for both practices and Divisions of General Practice.  These reports are a valuable tool that can be used to develop strategies aimed at increasing immunisation coverage rates for practices and for Division program staff.  Practices can contact their local Division of General Practice for assistance and Division program staff can contact the General Practice Queensland Immunisation Program.

A range of statistical reports are available at http://www.medicareaustralia.gov.au/provider/patients/acir/statistics.jsp

The National HPV Vaccination Program
The Vaccine:
Gardasil®  is a quadrivalent human papillomavirus (types 6, 11, 16, 18) recombinant vaccine.

Q & As for providers

Administration
3 doses administered intramuscularly with the first dose at an elected date, second dose 2 months later and third dose 6 months from the first dose.

Vaccination Program
All girls in Years 8, 9 & 10 will be vaccinated in 2008 through the school-based program.  From 2009, girls in Year 8 will be vaccinated as an ongoing program.

Until June 2009, GPs can vaccinate all women aged between 18 & 26 years, and those girls aged over 12 years who did not access the school based program.  Women who receive the first dose of HPV vaccine before they turn 27 years of age are eligible to receive free vaccine for all three doses. From end of June 2009, the vaccine will only be funded through the school based program.  GPs will still be able to provide the vaccine privately.
 
Remember – all three doses must be given by the end of June 2009.  As it takes 6 months to receive all three doses, women should begin the schedule by the end of 2008.

More information at:

An interim Register will be operational before 2008 to provide GPs with notification payments.  This interim Register will not have the full functionality of the permanent Register.

GP Payments
GPs will be paid $6 for each HPV vaccination encounter reported to the National HPV Register.  This payment will be made through Medicare with GPs being required to register their provider details and bank account details to facilitate these payments.

An information pack for practices/GPs will be sent out which will include:

• Letter explaining the registration process
• Consumer brochure
• Registration form
• Reply paid envelopes
  

GPs in Queensland should receive their information pack from mid-October 2008.

Obtaining Consent & Notifying VIVAS
As HPV data will be sent via VIVAS, it is important that consent is also received for patient data to be sent to the Register.  To enable this, practices can either:
o Record the vaccination AND consent on their practice software and send to VIVAS for collection
o Complete the Qld Health HPV Vaccination Encounter and the Register Consent Form and send to VIVAS.
Patients must consent to both vaccination and to having their data sent to the Register.  This consent must be collected for each vaccination encounter.

HPV Vaccination & Pap Smears
Women vaccinated against HPV are still required to have regular Pap smears.  For more information: Cervical Screening Program

• Over 1,500 Australians die each year from complications caused by influenza.
  
• Less than half the people most at risk of developing life threatening complications from influenza are being vaccinated annually.
  
• Only 20-50% of health care workers are being vaccinated. Their occupations put them at risk of either getting or spreading influenza.
  
• Influenza is not a cold. It is a highly contagious disease that kills the same number of people who die on our roads each year.
  
• Influenza vaccine for people aged 65 and over - common questions and answers for providers

National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance
The NCIRS provides useful resources for immunisation service providers, patients and anyone working in the area of immunisation.