Clinical News – Mar ’16

Changes to the new NSW Immunisation Schedule effective from 1 April 2016

The main immunisation schedule changes include the:

1. Introduction of an 18-month diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis (DTPa) booster vaccine for all children born from 1 October 2014.
2. Inclusion of influenza vaccine for Aboriginal children aged 6 months to <5 years.
3. Introduction of Zostavax® vaccine for people aged 70 years (commences in late November 2016).
4. Removal of the catch-up measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine dose two at 3 ½ to 4 years as all children now receive MMR vaccine at 12 months (dose 1) and measles, mumps, rubella and varicella (MMRV) at 18 months (dose 2 MMR).
5. Removal of the 3½ year schedule point (now fixed at 4 years of age).

CLICK HERE for updated Frequently Asked Questions.

CLICK HERE for the 18-month diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis (DTPa) booster vaccine.

Clinical practice guidelines and principles of care for people with dementia in Australia

In February 2016, the NHMRC approved the recommendations from the first Clinical practice guidelines and principles of care for people with dementia: Recommendations.

Currently there are more than 353,800 Australians with dementia and this figure is expected to increase to almost 900,000 by 2050. More than 1.2 million Australians are involved in their care and the cost of dementia on the health and aged care systems in calculated to be at least $4.9 billion per annum.

National clinical guidelines for people with dementia will provide health professionals and carers in primary care, aged care and hospital settings with access to recommendations reflecting current evidence on dementia care to better respond to the needs and preferences of the person living with dementia.

Source: The University of Sydney

CLICK HERE for the new clinical practice guidelines.

Legionella pneumophila

There has been a cluster of Legionella pneumophila notified with four confirmed cases, all caused by serogroup 1, with onset between 27/2/16 and 3/3/16. All the cases visited the Sydney CBD area in the incubation period.

Since 3 March, 4 new cases have been reported in the media to bring the total to 8 cases.

CLICK HERE for the NSW Health Alert: Legionella pneumophila.

Invasive Meningococcal Disease

There has been an unseasonal increase in invasive meningococcal disease (IMD) this year, with ten cases, including two deaths reported in 2016 compared to 5 cases in 2015 and 2 in 2014 in the same period. Both deaths were caused by serogroup W.

CLICK HERE for the NSW Health Alert: Invasive Meningococcal Disease.