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Immunisation

SNHN aims to reduce the incidence of vaccine preventable diseases in the community by providing information on the National Immunisation Schedule and support to immunisation providers and the community. In collaboration with the Public Health Unit, we can identify areas with lower immunisation rates, support strategies including data cleansing, cold chain management and use of AIR reports to aspire to rates above 95%.

Contact

Our PCA team is available to visit practices.

Sandra Collins – T: (02) 9432 8234 | E: scollins@snhn.org.au 
Kim Kindler – T: (02) 9432 8227 | E: kkindler@snhn.org.au

NSW Health Advice for Immunisation Services during COVID-19

  • NSW Health would like to emphasise the importance of continuing to immunise children against other infectious diseases in the context of COVID-19.
  • Now more than ever, it is important to maintain high vaccination coverage levels to prevent outbreaks of vaccine preventable diseases in the community.
  • Immunisation providers including general practice, community health and council run clinics should continue to offer immunisation services with enhanced infection control measures. This includes:
    • Enhance hygiene practices for staff, children and visitors. Washing hands frequently is the single most effective way to reduce the spread of germs that cause respiratory disease. Alcohol-based hand gel is a suitable alternative if used and stored safely around children.
    • Ensure robust routine environmental cleaning procedures are in place. A chlorine based product such as sodium hypochlorite is the recommended solution for disinfection.
    • Implement measures to reduce the number of people in the waiting room e.g. appointment system for vaccinations .
    • Encourage social distancing (1.5m separation) in the waiting room as much as possible.
  • Immunisation providers are usually recommended to vaccinate children who have minor illnesses (without acute systemic symptoms/signs). In the setting of the COVID-19 outbreak, immunisation providers should consider deferring routine immunisations for children with respiratory symptoms.

For further information please go to:

NSW Health – Vaccination Clinic Implementation

ATAGI clinical statement on vaccination observation time

  • Influenza vaccine medical contraindication form (Aged care facilities)

The Minister has made a direction under s7 of the Public Health Act 2010 in relation to aged care facilities, the Public Health (COVID-19 Aged Care Facilities) Order (No 2) 2020. This direction is intended to help protect the health of aged care residents and implement the Commonwealth and State Government public health requirements regarding visits to your facility during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Order is similar to the existing Public Health (COVID-19 Aged Care Facilities) Order 2020 in that it places restrictions on persons who can enter and remain on a residential aged care facility and generally requires screening of persons who are permitted to enter.

The direction continues to require staff and visitors of the residential care facility to have an up to date vaccination against influenza. However, this is not required if the person has a medical contraindication to the influenza vaccination and has provided the facility with an attached approved form, signed by a medical practitioner. This form is also available at: https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/Infectious/covid-19/Documents/flu-medical-form.pdf.

Some other key changes from previous Public Health (COVID-19 Residential Aged Care Facilities) Order 2020 include:

  • care and support visits are no longer restricted to 2 hours, and a resident can receive more than one care and support visit per day (by a maximum of 2 visitors together)
  • those under the age of 16 can now visit under the same restrictions as other visitors – no longer only for end-of-life
  • personal care services can resume.

The Minister has made a direction under s7 of the Public Health Act 2010 in relation to aged care facilities, the Public Health (COVID-19 Aged Care Facilities) Order (No 2) 2020. This direction is intended to help protect the health of aged care residents and implement the Commonwealth and State Government public health requirements regarding visits to your facility during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Order is similar to the existing Public Health (COVID-19 Aged Care Facilities) Order 2020 in that it places restrictions on persons who can enter and remain on a residential aged care facility and generally requires screening of persons who are permitted to enter.

The direction continues to require staff and visitors of the residential care facility to have an up to date vaccination against influenza. However, this is not required if the person has a medical contraindication to the influenza vaccination and has provided the facility with an attached approved form, signed by a medical practitioner. This form is also available at: https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/Infectious/covid-19/Documents/flu-medical-form.pdf.

Some other key changes from previous Public Health (COVID-19 Residential Aged Care Facilities) Order 2020 include:

  • care and support visits are no longer restricted to 2 hours, and a resident can receive more than one care and support visit per day (by a maximum of 2 visitors together)
  • those under the age of 16 can now visit under the same restrictions as other visitors – no longer only for end-of-life personal care services can resume

The NSW Ministry of Health will continue to work together with the Commonwealth Department of Health and the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission to support providers to implement the Communicable Diseases Network of Australia (CDNA) National Guidelines for the Prevention, Control and Public Health Management of COVID-19 Outbreaks in Residential Care Facilities in Australia. (Information provided by NSW Health, 100 Christie Street, St Leonards, NSW 2065, Australia.)

Australian Immunisation Register (AIR)

About AIR

AIR is the register of vaccinations given to people of all ages in Australia, and supersedes the Australian Childhood Immunisation Register (ACIR). AIR records vaccinations given through general practices and community clinics; it does not include those provided through school vaccination programs (catch up HepB, varicella, dTP). As of 1st January 2019, all records held in the HPV Register have been transferred to the AIR.

People of all ages enrolled in Medicare are automatically included on the AIR.
It does not automatically update retrospective vaccinations. Read more about AIR history.

An AIR logon enables GPs to:

  • Check patient records
  • Update records instantly, including overseas history
  • Request reports to help cleanse data
  • Email enquiries and request amendments of records to AIR by secure email

Foreign language terms for translating immunisation records – Centers for Disease Prevention and Control

Information for pharmacists 

Pharmacist Application to register as a vaccination provider

Instructions on how to use AIR:

If you have already registered but lost your logon details, please email air@humanservices.gov.au or contact the AIR support line on
1300 650 039.

Alerts and Updates

 

SEASONAL INFLUENZA VACCINATION 2020

 

HUMAN PAPILLOMAVIRUS (HPV) VACCINE

 

  • New access arrangements under NIP Supporting No Jab No Pay, National Immunisation Program – Expansion for refugees and humanitarian entrants aged 20 years and over in addition to free catch-up vaccines for all individuals aged 10 to 19 years – July 11 2017 – see Resources.
  • NSW Vaccination Centre – online ordering
    • The URL of the NSW Vaccine Ordering System has changed to https://nsw.tollhealthcare.com/
    • Please save this URL in your favourites. The new URL is operational and users should move to it as soon as possible.
    • Phone 1300 656 132 and fax 1800 041 528 remain the same.
Save The Date To VaccinateSave The Date To Vaccinate Smartphone App

This App is an easy-to-use reminder tool to help parents ensure their children are vaccinated on time. Just enter your child’s name, date of birth and postcode and the app creates a personalised immunisation schedule and sends you a series of reminders when it’s time to book appointments.

The app is intended as a planning and reminder tool. Complete records of the vaccinations your child has received are available from the Australian Childhood Immunisation Register (ACIR) on 1800 653 809.

Available on Apple app store    Available on Google play

Resources

  • Public Health Unit (Northern Sydney)
    1300 066 055 or fax: 9477 9019
    The Public Health Unit provides health protection services to the people of the Northern Sydney Local Health District which extends from Sydney Harbour to the Hawkesbury River.

Cold Chain Management

Domestic fridges are no longer considered appropriate for vaccine storage. Therefore, providers that have domestic or bar fridge should make arrangements to purchase a purpose built vaccine refrigerator to continue to receive government-funded vaccines.

All practices are now required to perform weekly data logging. Information on data loggers is available through the public health unit.

Community Information

Immunisation is a simple, safe and effective way of protecting you and your family against harmful diseases that can cause serious health problems and sometimes death.

Local Council Immunisation Clinics
Young girl on grandpa's shoulders

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