1-3 The Terrace
P.O Box 5013
Wellington
Date:
3 October 2014
Pages: 1 of 2
To:
General Practitioners, Practice Nurses, Practice Managers, Health Professionals
From:
Rayoni Keith, Manager, Immunisation
Subject:
Coverage Update, BCG, ADT vaccine shortage, Synflorix to Prevenar 13,
Infanrix-IPV packaging, Meningitec Recall, Measles, Ebola
Coverage update from Immunisation Champion Dr Pat Tuohy
The provisional coverage has increased to over 92 percent. From
October, the Ministry will be celebrating those practices that have
reached 100% infant immunisation coverage during that calendar
month. We appreciate the effort that is put in, especially to reach those
last couple of children and we want to thank those practices for their
dedication.
The difference between 92 and 95 percent is only a small number of
children. 229 children around the country will need to complete their 5
month immunisation during October, before they turn 8 months old, in
order for 95 percent of this age group to be protected. One of these
children could be in your practice – if you are not sure, please contact
your NIR administrator or immunisation co-ordinator.
BCG
BCG vaccine has now been licensed by Medsafe and is once again an approved medicine
in New Zealand. All BCG vaccine clinics should have now recommenced.
ADT Booster (Td) vaccine shortage
ADT Booster vaccine (Td), which is offered at ages 45 and 65 years and for tetanus prone
wounds, is back in stock at ProPharma. If you have been using Tdap (Boostrix) in the
short term as a replacement for Td (ADT Booster), please return to using Td as Tdap is
not funded for 45 and 65 year olds and tetanus prone wounds.
Synflorix to Prevenar 13
Please ensure that all Synflorix stock is used up before you begin to administer Prevenar
13 to patients and that the correct batch number is entered into your PMS.
Infanrix-IPV packaging
GSK have advised that they will shortly be replacing the green packaging for Infanrix-IPV
with orange packaging, in order to avoid confusion with Synflorix. For a period of time,
there will be a combination of both orange and green packs in the market. For further
information or if you have any concerns, please contact GSK Medical Information on
0800 808 500.
Meningitec recall
All unexpired doses of Meningitec (Meningitec meningococcal serogroup C conjugate
vaccine suspension for injection, single dose syringe) are being recalled worldwide,
including New Zealand. A review of batches manufactured since October 2012 found a
small number of syringes had been contaminated with iron oxide (rust) and oxidised
stainless steel, both of which originated from manufacturing equipment.
The risk that someone has received a contaminated dose of vaccine is very low. Only a
small number of doses per batch were found to be contaminated, and the product
manufacturer indicates that there have been no reported adverse events associated with
this issue worldwide.
Healthcare Logistics will be sending recall faxes to practices known to have received stock
since February this year, with those having received stock earlier than this being contacted
over the next few days. The Ministry recommends the following alternative conjugate
meningococcal vaccines: Neisvac-C from Baxter and Menactra from Sanofi-aventis.
Measles
At least fifteen children in Syria died in mid-September shortly after the administration of a
measles vaccine. While the WHO has suspended the vaccination programme in Syria
pending an investigation into the deaths, the Ministry has received assurance from New
Zealand’s supplier of MMR vaccine that the affected vaccine in Syria is not the same as
that used in New Zealand. We do not consider that there is any increased risk to patients
in New Zealand. Early reports suggest that the vaccine in Syria was reconstituted with a
muscle relaxant that was stored with the vaccines, rather than the correct diluent. This
tragic event highlights the importance of proper handling and storage of medicines.
The Ministry recently declared the recent measles outbreak over after two incubation
periods without a case being reported. Until immunisation rates among older children,
teenagers and young adults increases, we expect such outbreaks will continue to occur in
the future, here and overseas. We also expect further isolated measles cases to be
reported. On 30 September the Ministry was informed of a measles case in Wellington.
The Ministry is considering plans to achieve measles elimination in New Zealand. We ask
that general practices continue to offer MMR to anyone born after 1 January 1969 who has
not had two doses of measles vaccine, and record the vaccination on the NIR.
Ebola
A man who has fallen ill after travelling from Liberia to the United States has been
confirmed as having Ebola. The Ministry of Health assessment is that the risk to New
Zealand from Ebola remains low. Border screening is already in place for individuals
arriving from West African countries, such as Liberia, affected by the Ebola outbreak.
These controls are similar to those in place in comparable countries. Since screening was
introduced early in August there have been 47 people screened - none have had
symptoms.
An expert advisory group has been established so the Ministry can continue to check its
precautions are appropriate. The Ministry of Health is closely monitoring the situation in
the United States, and will continue to monitor the advice from, and actions being taken
by, the World Health Organization and other countries in relation to the Ebola outbreak in
West Africa. For more information and latest updates, see www.health.govt.nz/ebola. Any
queries should be directed to Ebolareadiness@moh.govt.nz.
If you have any queries about anything in this update, please email
immunisation@moh.govt.nz.