World Immunisation Week 2024: Is your practice ready for flu season?

With the start of World Immunisation Week on Wednesday 24 April 2024, the spotlight is on improving vaccination support for your patients. Brisbane South PHN supports general practices and other primary care vaccine providers to increase immunisation coverage within our region, through the National Immunisation Program (NIP) Schedule and the Queensland Immunisation Program.

Improve rates of influenza vaccination in your practice

As we move into the colder months of the year, we typically see an increase in cases of influenza. Practices can use the Winter Wellness report in Primary Sense to assist in identifying patients that are eligible for the NIP influenza vaccination.

Our step-by-step video can show you how to access the Winter Wellness report: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MldvJDdnAOU

Our General Practice Quality Improvement team can help support your practice to identify eligible patients and establish goals for increasing your vaccination rates. Contact the Quality Improvement team via support@bsphn.org.au or phone (07) 3864 7540.

2024 Free Influenza Vaccination Program is now running

All Queensland residents over the age of 6 months can access the influenza vaccine for free in 2024.

• The program is available to Queensland residents only, including residents without a Medicare card.

• The program will reimburse vaccination service providers for privately purchased vaccines administered to Queenslanders not eligible under the National Immunisation Program (NIP). General Practitioners do not have to change the way they currently bill for influenza vaccination consultation as a function of this program.

• The program will finish on Monday 30 September 2024.

Full details on the Program and how vaccine providers can participate are covered in our news article: 2024: Free Flu Vaccination Program.

Pneumococcal Vaccination Recall Program for adults 70 years and older

Pneumococcal vaccination is an important immunisation for your patients who are 70 years and older. It is estimated that only 1 in 4 Australians have received the NIP-funded 13vPCV (Prevenar 13) vaccination to protect against pneumococcal.

To improve pneumococcal vaccination rates, the Pneumococcal Vaccination Recall Program provides general practices with a free SMS recall for patients eligible for the 13vPCV (Prevenar 13) vaccination, funded on the National Immunisation Program (NIP).

Sign up to participate in the Penumococcal Vaccination Recall Program.

For more details about the Program, please email support@bsphn.org.au or phone (07) 3864 7540.

More resources and support

• Helpful information for immunisation providers can be found on our website: www.bsphn.org.au/practice-support/prevention-screening-and-immunisation/immunisation.

• Paediatric Immunisation Skills Workshop, Friday 3 May 2024
  The workshop will include practical simulations including differentiating between acute stress responses and anaphylaxis. It aims to equip you with the necessary tools to confidently handle different immunisation scenarios and report Adverse Events Following Immunisation (AEFI). Register for the workshop.

• Online education: Basic Catchup for Immunisation, Thursday 11 May
  Attend Benchmarque Group's interactive virtual workshop interactive virtual workshop for those new to immunisation or with limited experience, who would benefit from a small classroom setting. Register for the event here.

• Immunisation Bites, Thursday 16 May 2024
  This immunisation education webinar is a quick lunch time session delivered by the Metro South Public Health Unit. This session will cover the National Immunisation Program NIP older adult vaccination update. Register for the event here.