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School based immunisation programs |
The NSW Adolescent Vaccination Program started in NSW in May. It offers three vaccines to high school students in 2004 and heralds the introduction of routine annual school-based vaccination services for adolescents across NSW.
Meningococcal C vaccine – this year’s program sees all Year 7 students vaccinated and any other high school students who have missed out on previous school programs.
Hepatitis B vaccine - to all Year 7 students in a two dose adult vaccine schedule.
The hep B school based program will be an annual event for Year 7.
This is H-B-Vax II adult formulation approved for a two-dose schedule only for 11-15 year olds.
Those adolescents choosing to be vaccinated by their GPs can do so by using the hep B paediatric formulation supplied to practices in the standard three dose regimen administered a month apart between first and second dose and the third dose six months after the first.
Boostrix (diphtheria/tetanus/acellular pertussis) - to all high school students in 2004 to reduce the impact of the predicted epidemic of pertussis in this age group.
Please note this will cover 12 to 18 year olds, even though the NSW immunisation schedule for Boostrix states 15 to 17 years. Vaccinating children in Year 7 and above (12 years and up) will put these children ahead of the schedule and they will not require a further dose when they turn 15.
It will be 2007/08 before the current Year 6 children (about 11 years old) turn 15 and are therefore due for Boostrix vaccination.
It is not recommended to give Boostrix if ADT has been given in the previous five years.
Boostrix will be available to practices in 2005 for those children who missed out in the school-based program.
Parents wishing their children to be immunised with Boostrix in a GP practice in 2004 can do so by obtaining a script from their GP and buying the vaccine from a chemist. Approx cost $40-$45. You may have to call around to find a chemist that has it in supply, if not they have told me that they will order it in.
Pertussis on increase
The Northern Rivers Public Health Unit has received 31 pertussis notifications for this year including 11 in May and 10 in June. This is an increase on this time last year in which 25 cases were notified.
Useful vax websites
Catch up vaccination
The on-line catch up calculator has had a change of address and can now be found at www.health.sa.gov.au/immunisationcalculator. Please change your immunisation contact sheet accordingly (yellow laminated sheet).
Infectious disease website
NSW health has an excellent website for fact sheets and data on infectious diseases, and also provides a link to disease updates and forms on notifying infectious diseases. www.health.nsw.gov.au/living/infect.html#factsheets
Worldwide immunisation schedules can be viewed at this website. Handy for those patients who have started vaccination overseas.
www.vaccinews.com/default.asp?Topic_ID=66
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