scholarly journals COVID‐19 and changes in the National Immunisation Program: a unique opportunity to optimise the Australian Immunisation Register (AIR)

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jane Tuckerman ◽  
Christopher C Blyth ◽  
Frank H Beard ◽  
Margie H Danchin
Keyword(s):  
National Immunisation ◽  
National Immunisation Program

Surveillance of adverse events following immunisation in Australia annual report, 2017

2019 ◽  
Vol 43 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aditi Dey ◽  
Han Wang ◽  
Helen Quinn ◽  
Rona Hiam ◽  
Nicholas Wood ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Adverse Events ◽  
Annual Report ◽  
Injection Site Reaction ◽  
Reporting Rate ◽  
Vaccination Programs ◽  
National Immunisation ◽  
National Immunisation Program ◽  
Conjugate Vaccination ◽  
Reporting Rates ◽  
To Receive

This report summarises Australian passive surveillance data for adverse events following immunisation (AEFI) for 2017 reported to the Therapeutic Goods Administration and describes reporting trends over the 18-year period 1 January 2000 to 31 December 2017. There were 3,878 AEFI records for vaccines administered in 2017; an annual AEFI reporting rate of 15.8 per 100,000 population. There was a 12% increase in the overall AEFI reporting rate in 2017 compared with 2016. This increase in reported adverse events in 2017 compared to the previous year was likely due to the introduction of the zoster vaccine (Zostavax®) provided free for people aged 70–79 years under the National Immunisation Program (NIP) and also the state- and territory-based meningococcal ACWY conjugate vaccination programs. AEFI reporting rates for most other individual vaccines in 2017 were similar to 2016. The most commonly reported reactions were injection site reaction (34%), pyrexia (17%), rash (15%), vomiting (8%) and pain (7%). The majority of AEFI reports (88%) described non-serious events. Two deaths were reported that were determined to have a causal relationship with vaccination; they occurred in immunocompromised people contraindicated to receive the vaccines.

scholarly journals Australian Rotavirus Surveillance Program: Annual Report, 2018

2021 ◽  
Vol 45 ◽  
Author(s):  
Susie Roczo-Farkas ◽  
Julie E Bines ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Annual Report ◽  
Vaccination Schedule ◽  
Surveillance Program ◽  
Genotype Distribution ◽  
Rotavirus Vaccine ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
National Immunisation ◽  
Genotype Analysis ◽  
National Immunisation Program ◽  
Dominant Genotype

This report, from the Australian Rotavirus Surveillance Program and collaborating laboratories Australia-wide, describes the rotavirus genotypes identified in children and adults with acute gastroenteritis during the period 1 January to 31 December 2018. During this period, 690 faecal specimens were referred for rotavirus G- and P- genotype analysis, including 607 samples that were confirmed as rotavirus positive. Of these, 457/607 were wild-type rotavirus strains and 150/607 were identified as rotavirus vaccine-like. Genotype analysis of the 457 wild-type rotavirus samples from both children and adults demonstrated that G3P[8] was the dominant genotype nationally, identified in 52% of samples, followed by G2P[4] (17%). The Australian National Immunisation Program, which previously included both RotaTeq and Rotarix vaccines, changed to Rotarix exclusively on 1 July 2017. Continuous surveillance is needed to identify if the change in vaccination schedule could affect rotavirus genotype distribution and diversity in Australia.

scholarly journals Impact of a National Immunisation Program on herpes zoster incidence in Australia

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jialing Lin ◽  
Timothy Dobbins ◽  
James G Wood ◽  
Carla Bernardo ◽  
Nigel P Stocks ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Herpes Zoster ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Interrupted Time Series ◽  
National Program ◽  
Ecological Analysis ◽  
National Immunisation ◽  
National Immunisation Program ◽  
Time Series Analyses ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Herpes Zoster Incidence

Summary Objectives: To evaluate the impact of the National Herpes Zoster (zoster) Immunisation Program in Australia on zoster incidence. Methods: Ecological analysis of zoster incidence related to timing of implementation of the national program in vaccine-targeted (70-79 years) and non-targeted age groups (60-69 and 80-89 years) during January 2013-December 2018 was estimated using interrupted time-series analyses. Results: Prior to program commencement (Jan 2013 to Oct 2016) in patients aged 60-69, 70-79 and 80-89 years, incidence was mostly stable averaging respectively 7.2, 9.6 and 10.8 per 1000 person-years. In the two years following program commencement, incidence fell steadily in those aged 70-79 years, with an estimated decrease of 2.25 (95% CI: 1.34, 3.17) per 1000 person-years per year, with women having a greater decrease than men (2.83 versus 1.68, p-interaction<0.01). In the two non-vaccine-program-targeted age groups there was no evidence of reduction in zoster incidence: 60-69 years, 0.46 (95% CI: -0.46, 1.38) and 80-89 years, 0.11 (95% CI: -1.64, 1.87). Conclusions: Two years after implementation, an estimated 7000 zoster cases were prevented through the national program. With known waning vaccine efficacy, continued surveillance is needed to ensure these early reductions in incidence are sustained.

scholarly journals Surveillance of adverse events following immunisation in Australia: annual report, 2018

2020 ◽  
Vol 44 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aditi Dey ◽  
Han Wang ◽  
Helen Quinn ◽  
Alexis Pillsbury ◽  
Catherine Glover ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Adverse Events ◽  
Seasonal Influenza ◽  
Annual Report ◽  
Injection Site Reaction ◽  
Reporting Rate ◽  
Vaccination Programs ◽  
National Immunisation ◽  
Program Schedule ◽  
National Immunisation Program ◽  
Reporting Rates

This report summarises Australian spontaneous surveillance data for adverse events following immunisation (AEFI) for 2018 reported to the Therapeutic Goods Administration and describes reporting trends over the 19-year period 1 January 2000 to 31 December 2018. There were 4221 AEFI records for vaccines administered in 2018, an annual AEFI reporting rate of 16.9 per 100,000 population. There was a 2.9% increase in the overall AEFI reporting rate in 2018 compared to 2017. This slight increase in reported adverse events in 2018 was likely due to new additions to the National Immunisation Program schedule, namely meningococcal ACWY vaccination for children aged 12 months, enhanced immunogenicity trivalent influenza vaccines for adults aged ≥65 years, and state- and territory-funded seasonal influenza vaccination programs for children aged 6 months to <5 years. AEFI reporting rates for most individual vaccines in 2018 were similar to 2017. The most commonly reported adverse events were injection site reaction (34%), pyrexia (15%), rash (15%), vomiting (8%), headache (6%) and pain (6%). Two deaths were reported to the TGA but no clear causal relationship with vaccination was found.

scholarly journals Optimising immunisation in children with 22q11 microdeletion

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
pp. 251513552095713
Author(s):  
Angela Berkhout ◽  
Kahn Preece ◽  
Vanil Varghese ◽  
Vinita Prasad ◽  
Helen Heussler ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Total Sample ◽  
Live Vaccine ◽  
Mmr Vaccine ◽  
Vaccine Administration ◽  
National Immunisation ◽  
Phenotypic Spectrum ◽  
National Immunisation Program ◽  
Fourth Dose ◽  
Development Unit ◽  
Immunological Investigation

Background: The condition known as 22q11 microdeletion syndrome has a broad phenotypic spectrum, with many affected individuals experiencing mild-to-moderate immunodeficiency. Currently, there are significant variations in live vaccine practices and immunological testing prior to live vaccine administration due to safety concerns and limited established guidelines. Methods: Queensland Children’s Hospital (QCH) Child Development Unit, offers a state-wide 22q11 microdeletion clinic. This is a retrospective single-centre review, capturing the majority of children with 22q11 microdeletion in Queensland, Australia. We describe the live vaccination status of 134 children, age 0 to 18 years under our care between 2000 and 2018, adverse events following immunisation (AEFI) and the proportion of children who received additional pneumococcal coverage. An immunological investigation pathway prior to live vaccine administration is proposed. Results: Of the 134 children, 124 were eligible for live vaccinations as per the Australian National Immunisation Program: 82% had received dose one of measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine, 77% had completed MMR dose two and 66% had completed varicella immunisation. There were no AEFI notifications reported. Of the total sample of children, 18% received a fourth dose of conjugate pneumococcal vaccine (Prevenar 7 or 13) and 16% received a dose of Pneumovax 23 from 4 years of age. Immunology workup practices were demonstrated to vary widely prior to live vaccine administration. Most patients’ immune profiles were consistent with mild-to-moderate immunodeficiency. Conclusion: We propose an immunological investigation and vaccination pathway with the aim of providing guidance and consistency to clinicians caring for children with 22q11 microdeletion.

scholarly journals Influenza hospitalizations in Australian children

2017 ◽  
Vol 145 (7) ◽  
pp. 1451-1460 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. LI-KIM-MOY ◽  
J. K. YIN ◽  
C. C. BLYTH ◽  
A. KESSON ◽  
R. BOOY ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Influenza Vaccine ◽  
Influenza Vaccination ◽  
Influenza A ◽  
Immunization Coverage ◽  
Population Level ◽  
Vaccine Safety ◽  
Vaccine Uptake ◽  
Healthy Children ◽  
National Immunisation ◽  
National Immunisation Program

SUMMARYAustralia's National Immunisation Program (NIP) provides free influenza vaccination for children at high risk of severe influenza; a pilot-funded programme for vaccine in all children aged 6 months to <5 years in one of eight states, has seen poor vaccine impact, related to recent vaccine safety concerns. This retrospective review examined influenza hospitalizations in children aged <16 years from three seasons (2011–2013) at two paediatric hospitals on opposite sides of the country. Comparisons of this cohort were made with state-based data on influenza-coded hospitalizations and national immunization register data on population-level immunization coverage. Of 740 hospitalizations, the majority were aged <5 years (476/740, 64%), and a substantial proportion (57%) involved healthy children, not currently funded for influenza vaccine. Intensive care unit admission occurred in 8·5%, and 1·5% of all children developed encephalitis. Use of antiviral therapy was uncommon (20·5%) and decreasing. Of those hospitalized, only 5·0% of at-risk children, who are currently eligible for free vaccine, and 0·7% of healthy children were vaccinated prior to hospitalization. This was consistent with low population-wide estimates of influenza vaccine uptake. It highlights the need to examine alternative strategies, such as universally funded paediatric influenza vaccination, to address disease burden in Australian children.

scholarly journals Immunisation Coverage Annual Report 2018

2021 ◽  
Vol 45 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brynley Hull ◽  
Alexandra Hendry ◽  
Aditi Dey ◽  
Peter McIntyre ◽  
Kristine Macartney ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Influenza Vaccine ◽  
Torres Strait Islander ◽  
Vaccine Coverage ◽  
Rotavirus Vaccine ◽  
Immunisation Coverage ◽  
National Immunisation ◽  
Vaccine Schedule ◽  
National Immunisation Program ◽  
Indigenous Children ◽  
Torres Strait

Australian Immunisation Register data have been analysed for children aged < 5 years, focusing on changes in coverage at key milestone ages (12, 24 and 60 months) between 2017 and 2018, while also documenting longer term trends. Fully vaccinated coverage increased at the 12- and 60-months milestones to 93.9% and 94.0%, respectively, but, in the context of additional antigens required, decreased to 90.1% at 24 months. Following the move to a two-dose rotavirus vaccine schedule across Australia from mid-2017, rotavirus vaccine coverage increased from 86.8% to 90.9%. In 2018, most jurisdictions funded influenza vaccine for non-Indigenous children aged 6 months to < 5 years; the National Immunisation Program has funded influenza vaccine for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and medically at-risk children since 2015 and 2010, respectively. Recorded influenza vaccine coverage in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children doubled from 14.9% to 31.4%, and increased fivefold in non-Indigenous children from 5.0% to 25.9% in 2018. The timeliness of fully vaccinated coverage was also examined at earlier milestones (3 months after due date of last scheduled vaccine) of 9, 15, 21 and 51 months, by area of residence. For all children, coverage among those living in the least advantaged residential area quintile was 3–4% lower than that for those in the most advantaged quintile at the 9-, 15- and 21-month milestones. Importantly, although Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children had lower coverage for the second dose of measles-mumps-rubella vaccine at 24 months (91.8% versus 93.1% for non-Indigenous), coverage increased to 98.5% at 60 months; coverage was also high in non-Indigenous children at 96.2%, above the 95% target critical to measles control. These data demonstrate continuing improvements in immunisation coverage and suggest potential new coverage targets for earlier protection in the first two years of life.

scholarly journals Australian Rotavirus Surveillance Program: Annual Report, 2019

2021 ◽  
Vol 45 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarah Thomas ◽  
Celeste M Donato ◽  
Susie Roczo-Farkas ◽  
Jenny Hua ◽  
Julie E Bines ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Annual Report ◽  
Surveillance Program ◽  
Genotype Distribution ◽  
Oral Vaccines ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
National Immunisation ◽  
Genotype Analysis ◽  
Vaccine Schedule ◽  
National Immunisation Program ◽  
Dominant Genotype

This report, from the Australian Rotavirus Surveillance Program and collaborating laboratories Australia-wide, describes the rotavirus genotypes identified in children and adults with acute gastroenteritis during the period 1 January to 31 December 2019. During this period, 964 faecal specimens had been referred for rotavirus G- and P- genotype analysis, including 894 samples that were confirmed as rotavirus positive. Of these, 724/894 were wild-type rotavirus strains and 169/894 were identified as vaccine-like. A single sample could not be determined as wild-type or vaccine-like due to poor sequencing. Genotype analysis of the 724 wild-type rotavirus samples from both children and adults demonstrated that G3P[8] was the dominant genotype nationally, identified in 46.7% of samples, followed by G2P[4] in 8.8% of samples. The Australian National Immunisation Program (NIP) changed to the exclusive use of Rotarix as of 1 July 2017. The NIP had previously included two live-attenuated oral vaccines: Rotarix (monovalent, human) and RotaTeq (pentavalent, human-bovine reassortant) in a state-based vaccine selection. Continuous surveillance is imperative to determine the effect of this change in rotavirus vaccine schedule on the genotype distribution and diversity in Australia.

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