For those looking for the Vaccine Administration Code, please click on the hyperlink immediately below:
Vaccine Administration Code [PDF 463KB]
WHATS NEW
Pertussis (whooping cough) program extended to 30 June 2012
Parents, grandparents and carers of newborn babies can access one dose of the whooping cough vaccine for an additional six months, to 30 June 2012. The whooping cough disease is still at high levels in Western Australia and those who are eligible are urged to get vaccinated to protect their newborn babies. See the whooping cough brochure for more information.
New resource: Partial vaccination form
A new resource was developed to assist immunisation providers in supporting parents and guardians who choose to vaccinate their children against a reduced number of diseases compared to the recommendations on the WA immunisation schedule. This resource is developed for providers to talk through with parents. It is available in small print or large print.
Prevenar 13® supplementary program information
The National Immunisation Program will initiate a time-limited one year pneumococcal program to provide a single supplementary dose of a 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (13vPCV, Prevenar 13®) for children aged between 12 months and 35 months who have completed primary vaccination with the 7-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (7vPCV, Prevenar®).
This time-limited program will begin on 1 October 2011 and end on 30 September 2012.
The parents/carers of children eligible for the program will receive a letter from the Australian Childhood Immunisation Register advising them of their child’s eligibility for the time-limited program. A copy of this letter to parents, as well as one from the CMO to providers, are below for your information.
Prevenar 13® Letter from the CMO to Providers (PDF 100KB)
Prevenar 13® Letter from the CMO to Parents (PDF 46KB)
The Commonwealth Government has developed guidelines to support providers in administering the supplementary program. Please see links below for more information.
Childhood pneumococcal supplementary program guidelines http://immunise.health.gov.au/internet/immunise/publishing.nsf/Content/pneumo-gsupp-cnt
Childhood pneumococcal general program guidelines
http://immunise.health.gov.au/internet/immunise/publishing.nsf/Content/pneumo-g-cnt
Department of Health announces new system to monitor adverse events following immunisation
WA Vaccine Safety Surveillance (WAVSS) system is part of the Western Australian Department of Health and has been set up for the surveillance of adverse events following immunisation (AEFI).
Although significant AEFI are rare, the system has been established to help health providers and the public encourage full immunisation of children and adults who have experienced any significant AEFI.
The public health aim for WAVSS is the early detection, and appropriate and quick response to AEFI, to lessen the negative impact upon the health of individuals and the WA immunisation program.
New vaccine brand names offered on the vaccination schedule
Rotavirus - RotaTeq Vaccine
Rotavirus is a highly infectious disease which can cause severe diarrhoea and vomiting in infants and young children in Australia. WA is using the rotavirus vaccine RotaTeq which is scheduled to be given to babies as an oral dose at 2, 4 and 6 months of age. This can be given at the same time as the other vaccines on the schedule.
This vaccine cannot be given late as the safety of the vaccine has not been tested in older babies so present on time with your baby so they don’t miss out.
Quadracel
Quadracel is a vaccine used to help prevent whooping cough, tetanus, diphtheria and polio. This vaccine is for use in children under the age of 7. In Western Australia Quadracel is administered to children as a booster dose at 4 years of age. The vaccine contains the same antigens as Infanrix-IPV and is administered in the same way.
