To facilitate accurate monitoring of influenza vaccine uptake in WA, the Communicable Disease Control Directorate (CDCD) requests that all administered influenza vaccines are entered onto the Australian Immunisation Register (AIR) as soon as possible.
This year, WA Health has distributed over 630,000 doses of Government funded influenza vaccines for individuals at increased risk of serious influenza illness. However, recent figures indicate under 300 000 doses have been recorded as administered.
Acknowledging the potential for some undercounting and delays in data entry into the AIR, the difference suggests a significant number of influenza vaccine doses, perhaps several hundred thousand doses – are currently with immunisation providers awaiting administration.
Current data on the Australian Immunisation Register data for individuals aged 6 months to 5 years indicates influenza vaccine coverage is more than 12 percent higher than June 2018 (24.0%). The CDCD urges GPs to continue to improve vaccination coverage in this vulnerable cohort by actively promoting influenza vaccination of young children.