The Australian Government has recently introduced changes to the National Immunisation Program (NIP) to better protect children and adults at increased risk of meningococcal and pneumococcal disease.
Please refer to the updated WA Immunisation Schedule and the suite of “Immunisation” HealthPathways.
The Toll ordering system will be updated when the new program vaccines Bexsero® and Prevenar®13 are available to order. The system will also be combining adolescent and adult vaccines under the same tab, and a revised User Guide will soon be available.
Providers can now order for patients with medical risk conditions directly through the Toll ordering system. The Communicable Disease Control Directorate advises that local Public Health Units no longer need to approve splenectomy orders.
In line with these changes, the National Centre Immunisation Research and Surveillance (NCIRS) have updated the following resources:
- Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) vaccines for Australian children Fact sheet
- Meningococcal vaccines for Australians – Fact sheet
- Meningococcal vaccines for Australians – FAQs
- Pneumococcal vaccines for Australians – Fact sheet
- Vaccines for Australian adults – Fact sheet
In addition, the NCIRS have created new immunisation schedule tables that summarise vaccine recommendations for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and non-Indigenous people:
- Immunisation schedule for non-Indigenous people
- Immunisation schedule for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people living in NT, QLD, SA and WA
Refer also to the Australian Immunisation Handbook and ATAGI clinical advice on these changes.