Prevention, screening and immunisation
Important update
Primary Sense will be replacing the Pen CS systems CAT4 and Topbar in May 2023. Primary Sense is an evidence based clinical audit and decision support tool that provides on demand, pre-filtered reports at the click of a button.
From November 2022 your practice can gain access to Primary Sense. Simply complete the online form and our team will be in touch. For further information, visit our webpage.
Chronic disease prevention
The Queensland Government’s My Health For Life (MH4L) program is a free behaviour change program designed for people at high risk of developing a chronic disease.
It is designed to support participants to make small lifestyle changes that can have significant, long-term health benefits.
The program supports the primary health care network by extending on advice given by health professionals and is delivered as follows:
- six coaching sessions (either phone or group sessions)
- delivered over a 6-month period
- MH4L facilitators are qualified health profesionals from across the Brisbane south region.
- Face-to-face or video conference sessions are available.
Get involved
To access the program, patients need to meet the eligibility criteria.
Patients can be referred using the practice software My health for life referral template or calling 13 74 75.
Cancer screening
Brisbane South PHN recommends all practices regularly check and participate in training about current screening guidelines for breast cancer, cervical cancer and bowel cancer:
- Breast screening
- National Cervical Screening program
- Cervical Screening Online Training Modules
- RACGP and the NSCP cervical cancer screening guidelines
- National Bowel Cancer Screening Program (NBCSP)
- Clinical Guidelines – National Bowel Cancer Screening Program
- NBSCP and Australia Primary Health Care Nurses Association (APNA) Bowel cancer education
- Quality improvement toolkit for general practice – cancer prevention
There are many ways for practices to encourage patients to participate in screening, including:
- displaying brochures, fliers and posters
- demonstrating test kit use
- sending reminders to eligible patients.
National Cancer Screening Register have you linked to PRODA?
Best Practice & MedicalDirector users can now access their patient’s bowel and cervical screening information from within a patient’s records to help maximise participation in these life-saving programs.
Find more information here on how results can be integrated into the patient’s notes at the click of a button.
Have you linked your accounts? If not, book in some time to be supported with this process.
Immunisation in primary care
‘Immunisation is a simple, safe and effective way of protecting people against harmful diseases before they come into contact with them. Immunisation protects not only individuals, but also others in the community by reducing the spread of preventable diseases.’
Brisbane South PHN supports the primary care vaccine service providers to increase immunisation coverage within the Brisbane south area through the National Immunisation Program (NIP) Schedule and the Queensland Immunisation Program.
The Australian Immunisation Handbook provides clinical advice for health professionals on the safest and most effective use of vaccines in their practice.
Information and resources
Updates
- National Immunisation Program (NIP) schedule changes from 1 July 2020
- Updated resources
- Updated recommendations
- Australian Immunisation Handbook Mobile app
- National Immunisation Catch up calculator
- Risk conditions for pneumococcal disease (funded and not funded)
- Pneumococcal vaccines for Australians – Fact sheet
- Meningococcal vaccines for Australians – Fact sheet
Users can access additional information to assist with the interpretation of the recommendations from the Australian Immunisation Handbook website’s Recommendations and Resources pages.
Immunisation resources
- Australian Immunisation Handbook
- Queensland immunisation schedule 2020
- Latest news Department of Health
- Immunisation program updates
- National vaccine storage guidelines “Strive for 5”
- Department of Health resources
- Adverse events following immunisation reporting form (AEFI)
- The Pneumosmart vaccination tool
- Online catch up calculator
- Questions about vaccination
- Following vaccination – what to expect and what to do (tear off pads)
- NCIRS fact sheets
- Pre-Vaccination Screening Checklist and Consent Form
- Pre-vaccination checklist for Zostavax administration
- Catch-up vaccination
- Vaccination procedures
- Preparing an anaphylaxis response kit
- Quality improvement toolkit for general practice – shingles
- Quality improvement toolkit for general practice – pneumococcal
Online education
- Immunisation – General and COVID-19 vaccination
- Queensland Health online courses for immunisation service providers
- Immunisation training videos developed by the Immunisation Program for training purposes (how to administer vaccines, first contact with a vaccine-hesitant parent, doctors speaking to a vaccine-hesitant mother, yarning about immunisation, setting up a purpose-built fridge, how to pack an esky with vaccines)
- APNA (Australian Primary Health Care Nurses Association)
- National Centre Immunisation Research and Surveillance NCIRS webinars
Vaccine management (cold chain)
Australian Immunisation Register
Australian Immunisation Register (AIR) is a national register that records all vaccines given to all people in Australia.
- Australian Immunisation Register
- Using the AIR factsheets – Queensland Health
- AIR education for vaccine providers
- AIR for health professionals
- Application to register as a vaccination provider
- Accessing AIR using PRODA for Organisations USER GUIDE
- Accessing AIR using PRODA for Individuals USER GUIDE
Influenza
Influenza vaccination for 2023
Annual influenza vaccination is the most important measure to prevent influenza and its complications and is recommended for all people aged 6 months and over.
Queensland Health 2023 influenza vaccination guidelines:
- Vaccine strains
- Best timing for vaccination
- COVID-19 vaccination timing
- Additional information on the Australian Immunisation Register
- Eligibility for influenza vaccines funded by the National Immunisation Program
- Vaccine age restrictions
- Dosage and administration
- More information
ATAGI advice on seasonal influenza vaccines in 2023
Key points:
- Annual vaccination is the most important measure to prevent influenza and its complications. It is recommended for all people ≥6 months of age.
- All vaccinations must be recorded on the Australian Immunisation Register (AIR).
- In 2022, there was a resurgence of influenza virus circulation arising from the reopening of international borders. In 2023, seasonal influenza activity is expected to continue and the importance of influenza vaccination should be emphasised.
- Influenza vaccines can be co-administered (given on the same day) as any COVID-19 vaccine.
- For adults aged ≥65 years, both the adjuvanted (Fluad® Quad) and high dose influenza vaccine (Fluzone High Dose Quadrivalent) are preferentially recommended over standard influenza vaccine. There is no preference for use between either Fluad® Quad or Fluzone High-Dose Quadrivalent in this age group.
- If a person had a 2022 influenza vaccine in late 2022 or early 2023, they are still recommended to receive a 2023 formulation of influenza vaccine.
Resources
2023 Influenza vaccination – Program advice for vaccination providers
National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance (NCIRS)
- Influenza 2023 fact sheet
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Influenza vaccination information for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
- Supporting conversations with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
- Queensland Government Flu prevention resources
- Vaccines from community pharmacy – ‘at a glance’ resource
- What vaccines are available from community pharmacy
• Is the vaccine free?
• Would the vaccine be free from my GP?
Quality Improvement Toolkit for General Practice – Prevention Influenza Vaccination 2023
QI toolkits are available online at Brisbane South PHN DiscoverPHN learning portal for access to a pdf fillable version.
First Nations Immunisation resources