ISSUE 76 - APRIL 2014
National Immunisation Schedule 1 July 2014
An overview of the National Immunisation Schedule vaccine changes from 1 July 2014 is provided below. Specific details will be described in
the Immunisation Handbook 2014, other written resources and training packages.
Changes to universally funded Immunisation Schedule vaccines from 1 July 2014
• RotaTeq® oral rotavirus vaccine will be funded for all infants receiving the first dose between 6 and 15 weeks of age.
• Prevenar 13® (PCV13) will replace Synflorix® (PCV10) for all infants and children as the existing Synflorix® stock is used.
• Gardasil® (HPV4) remains on the Schedule for girls aged 12 until their 20th birthday but can start their course of funded vaccines from 9
years of age.
RotaTeq® catch-up for babies born 19 March to 19 May 2014
• During their 6 week immunisation visit, we recommend booking an appointment for their first RotaTeq® dose in July.
• The first dose of RotaTeq® can ONLY be given on or after 1 July and BEFORE the baby is 15 weeks old.
• Babies born 19–24 March have less than one week to receive their first RotaTeq® dose.
• Babies born 25–31 March only have 1–7 July to receive their first RotaTeq® dose.
Erratum: This sentence should read Babies born 25–31 March only have 1–13 July to receive their first RotaTeq® dose.
Rules for RotaTeq® catch-up doses
• First RotaTeq® dose MUST be given before 15 weeks of age, i.e. up to and including 14 weeks and 6 days old.
• Administer two further doses of RotaTeq® before 8 months of age. A minimum interval of four weeks is required between each of the three
doses.
• No doses of RotaTeq® can be administered from 8 months of age.
Changes to catch-up vaccines
Children aged 5–7 years
Children aged 5–7 years (i.e. up to the 7th birthday) can have EITHER Infanrix®-hexa or Infanrix®-IPV plus HBvaxPRO® (hepatitis B) to
catch-up immunisation against tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis, polio and hepatitis B.
Children aged 7–10 years
Children aged 7–10 years (i.e. up to the 10th birthday) can have EITHER Infanrix®-IPV or Boostrix® plus IPOL (IPV) to catch-up
immunisation against tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis and polio. Although Boostrix® is not licensed for use in the 7–10 years age group it has
been used in New Zealand and overseas in this age group and there are no safety concerns with off-label use.
Children aged 7–18 years
Boostrix® (Tdap) will be funded for children aged 7–18 years (i.e. up to the 18th birthday) for catch-up programmes to complete a primary
course and booster vaccination against tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis.
Changes to funded vaccines for specified high risk groups
• All Schedule vaccines will be funded for revaccination following immunosuppression.
• Gardasil® (HPV4) will be funded for HIV positive individuals up to their 26th birthday and transplant recipients.
• Havrix® (hepatitis A) will be funded for transplant recipients, children with chronic liver disease and close contacts of a hepatitis A case.
• HBvaxPRO® (hepatitis B) eligibility will be extended to include individuals undergoing renal dialysis, HIV or hepatitis C positive
individuals, and transplant recipients.
• NeisVac-C™ (MenCCV) will be funded for infants and children under 2 years of age eligible for the Pre/post-splenectomy Immunisation
Programme, transplant recipients, individuals following immunosuppression, close contacts of a meningococcal disease case and to
control organisation and community-based outbreaks.
• Menactra® (MCV4-D, conjugated vaccine) will replace Menomune® (meningococcal A, C, Y & W135 polysaccharide vaccine) for children
from 2 years of age and adults eligible for the Pre/post-splenectomy Immunisation Programme, transplant recipients, individuals
following immunosuppression, close contacts of a meningococcal disease case, and to control organisation and community-based
outbreaks.
• Varilrix® (varicella) will be funded for non-immune individuals with deteriorating renal function or chronic liver disease who may require
organ transplantation, prior to solid organ transplantation or elective immunosuppression, HIV positive individuals with mild/moderate
immunocompromise, and household members of children who are immunocompromised or undergoing treatment that will cause them
to become immunocompromised. Funding will also extend to individuals following chemotherapy or stem cell transplantation for postexposure prophylaxis for immunocompetent hospital inpatients.
Visit the Immunisation Advisory Centre website at www.immune.org.nz
APRIL 2014
Influenza immunisation campaign
focuses on younger ‘at-risk’ groups
Whilst the 2013 campaign saw around 1.25 million doses of
influenza vaccine distributed – a record result, the National Influenza
Specialist Group (NISG)# is concerned that there are still many
vulnerable people who are not immunised each year, despite the
offer of free immunisation.
Protection of pregnant women, their newborn babies, and younger
people most at risk of complications from influenza are a special
focus of the 2014 seasonal influenza immunisation campaign.
Healthy, pregnant women are up to 18 times more likely to be
admitted to hospital when suffering from influenza than non-pregnant
women.1 The vaccine has been used for many years in pregnant
women, with no safety concerns, and can be given in any trimester.2
“Influenza immunisation in pregnancy also offers protection to
the newborn baby during the first few months of life” says NISG
spokesperson and virologist, Dr Lance Jennings.
“As well as pregnant women, we would particularly like to encourage
all eligible adults, including younger people, who have ongoing
medical conditions to talk to their doctor or nurse about free influenza
immunisation. Our research shows there is a degree of complacency
among younger people in particular which we need to overcome to
protect them. You are never too fit to get hit by influenza,” says Dr
Jennings.
Adults under 35 years, who visited their doctor over autumn were
actually less likely to have immunisation recommended (43 percent)
than the over 50s (66 percent). Moreover, the under 35s have fewer
motivations than the older age groups and have more barriers to
immunisation – they appear more concerned about side effects, but
also consider it an inconvenience to be immunised.
“We must recognize these issues and make a conscious effort to
recall these younger, at-risk patients, recommend vaccination during
visits, and provide information to allay their concerns,” says Dr
Jennings.
Healthcare professionals are still the most important source of
information on influenza immunisation for people eligible for free
immunisation. Around 43 percent of eligible people said they
had received influenza immunisation information either through
conversation or via contact from the medical practice (e.g. TXT or
email).3
Influvac® and Fluarix® are the ONLY funded vaccines for 2014.
Either vaccine can be given to children from 6 months of age.
Recording influenza immunisation of the National Immunisation
Register will provide valuable information on the effectiveness of the
campaign and where NISG need to concentrate their efforts in the
future.
References
1. Schanzer DL, Langley JM, Tam TWS. Influenza-attributed
hospitalization rates among pregnant women in Canada 1994-2000.
Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology. 2007;29(8):622.
2. Tamma PD, Ault KA, del Rio C, et al. Safety of influenza
vaccination during pregnancy. Am j Obstet Gyn. 2009;201(6):547552.
3. National Influenza Specialist Group.
# NISG was formed in 2000 by the Ministry of Health to increase
public awareness of influenza, its seriousness and the importance of
immunisation to prevent the disease.
Using the new Influvac® syringe
Instructions on how to use the new Influvac® syringe
can be found here on the www.influenza.org.nz website.
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Click on the Adobe Reader image to visit the Adobe website and
download the free PDF file viewer software
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Well Child / Tamariki Ora
Although Well Child/Tamariki Ora Week 2014 is
officially over you can host a local event to promote
the Parent-held Health Book and free Core Health
Checks anytime of the year. Resources are
available online from HealthEd or by phoning your
local Public Health Resources Centre.
We have already started planning for next year’s Well Child/Tamariki
Ora Week, thinking about the best dates, planning new resources
and liaising with providers and DHBs. The Parent-held Health Book
is being updated by the Ministry of Health.
Our website, www.wellchild.org.nz, has a fresh new
look with new content for providers and whänau.
Providers can also
to receive the
quarterly Well Child/Tamariki Ora Coordinator Update
directly to their email inbox.
The Well Child/Tamariki Ora Atlas is an online tool
providing an overview of quality measures of the early childhood
health services by DHB using the 27 quality indicators in The Well
Child/Tamariki Ora Quality Improvement Framework. The Atlas can
be accessed from the Health Quality & Safety Commission New
Zealand website and from www.wellchild.org.nz.
Immunisation Awareness Week
28 April–2 May 2014
The focus of Immunisation Awareness Week 2014 will be
on timely newborn enrolment and immunisation for parents
of young children, the addition of three doses of RotaTeq®
to the National Immunisation Schedule on 1 July 2014, with eligibility
for babies who are under 15 weeks of age on 1 July 2014 (refer to
tables on front page), and influenza immunisation during pregnancy.
Designated regional contacts in each DHB will be sent 40 collated
resource packs and a pack of uncollated resources, Immunisation
Coordinators will be sent one pack. Practices will obtain their
resource packs from the designated contact in their region.
Resources were due to be in the regions during the week beginning
8 April.
Email stories and photos to the editor about how your
practice or organisation promoted Immunisation Awareness
Week and how your community responded for the next
edition of ImmNuZ. If your photos include people, please obtain each
person’s permission for the photo to be published before emailing
them.
Education update
• ONLINE VACCINATOR UPDATES for those who vaccinate
infants to adults and for those who only vaccinate adolescents
and adults are available via our Health Professionals/Education
and Training webpage.
• AUCKLAND AND NORTHLAND VACCINATORS – did you know
that we offer vaccinator update courses as an option? Dates for
2014 are Auckland 6th May, 5th August, 13th October and 25th
November, Kaitaia 24th May, and Whangarei 6th September.
• The MIDWIVES ONLINE IMMUNISATION UPDATE is coming
soon with 5 continuing education points allocated by the
Midwifery Council.
• PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT DAYS are being held on
26th May in Wellington and 28th May in Auckland. Please visit
our Health Professionals/Education and Training webpage for
more information and registration details.
Editor: Karin Batty
Phone: 09 923 9951
Fax:
09 373 7030
Email: immnuz@imac.org.nz
For evidence based information from the Immunisation Advisory Centre visit our website at www.immune.org.nz