Prue Crouch, the Immunisation coordinator for General Practice Network NT (left) with community nurse Judi Arthur, Melinda Hassall, Central Australia immunisation Centre for Disease Control and community nurse Genevieve Lewis outside the Utju clinic at Areyonga NT.

In March 2009 the WA General Practice Network - Immunisation Program launched the ‘2009 Staff Influenza Program’. This program was designed to offer all Network staff in Western Australia a “free” influenza vaccine this year.

Number of Staff within WA general practice networks = 399
Number of vaccines distributed = 217
Vaccine uptake – varied from 18 percent to 84 percent  with an average= 66 percent

In November 2009 a survey was undertaken as a follow-up to the program and the findings can be summarised into four ‘C’s” cost, convenience, communication and consideration. Cost and inconvenience are often deterrents to any health procedure. The cost associated with a General Practitioner (GPs) visit and the cost of the vaccine added to the time taken out of the day to visit the GP for the vaccination are impediments to being immunised. Free, on site and in work time is an attractive way to offer any influenza vaccination program. If only this was possible for all Australians.

The survey findings highlighted the need for pre vaccination communication – risks and benefits, details about the disease and the impact on the community at large. We can never become complacent on these issues. Mixed, incorrect and confusing communication can be the downfall of vaccination programs. Providers and program coordinators need to ensure that information on the influenza vaccination program is clear, concise and correct.

Differing options and beliefs is not a new issue to immunisation programs, but consideration and respect is still required within the workplace and the community. The personal choice for or against vaccination needs to be considered when programs are offered especially in workplace settings.
The full report can be found at: http://www.wagpnetwork.com.au/client_images/292620.pdf.

Authorised immunisation providers can now view their practice’s GPII020A report from the Australian Childhood Immunisation Register (ACIR) secure internet site in a print friendly format. This should enable practice staff to access information about overdue children faster and help keep those immunisation rates up. To request access or log on to the ACIR secure site, go to HPOS logon.

If practices are not receiving their 20A reports;
• Check to see if all GPs have signed their 46E forms (particularly the locums)
• Check to see if the practice has requested a 20A report
• Check to see if the GPs receiving the 20A report are still in the practice

The ASPREN is a key part of pandemic preparedness in Australia. The data collected by ASPREN, the only national sentinel surveillance system in Australia, acts as an early warning system in the event of an influenza like illness outbreak. Informed decisions about disease preparedness and response would be very difficult without an early warning system.

ASPREN has collected de-identified information on influenza like illnesses presenting to general practice since 1991. Estimating the levels of influenza circulating as a proportion of the population has been recognised as an effective approach both nationally and internationally.

ASPREN is urgently seeking additional GP’s to take part in the program.  For more information please contact Ms Monique Chilver who is the ASPREN coordinator, phone (08) 8303 7583 or email at monique.chilver@adelaide.edu.au.

GSK is once again looking for immunisation initiatives that demonstrate innovation in improving coverage and delivery of childhood immunisation in Australia. These awards are offered every two years and will be presented at the Public Health Association of Australia (PHAA) National Immunisation conference in August.  The winners of these awards in 2008 were;
• Osborne General Practice Network in the ‘Over 12 Months’ section with their Grubsy project
• Ngaanyatjarra Health Service  and General Practice Network NT in the ‘Hard to reach’ section
• Otway Division of General Practice and Warrnambool City Council, VIC
• Ti Tree Family Doctor, Mt Eliza, VIC in the ‘Over 12 months’ sections

The awards this year have been increased in value. There are now four awards of $15,000 to reward innovation and sharing best practice in immunisation.  The awards are open to all health professionals working in childhood immunisation in Australia. 
To register your interest contact the Awards Secretariat on 02 9286 1251 or email gskchildhood@hillandknowlton.com.au.

The NCIRS has launched its new look website at  http://www.ncirs.edu.au/ . The fact sheets, research and publication information are all available along with an updated Mumps Measles and Rubella decision aid, the newsletter and conference information.

Non accredited GPII practices would have recently received a letter from the Department of Health and Ageing and Medicare Australia. This letter outlines the changes to the General Practice Immunisation Incentive scheme relevant to these practices following announcements made in the 2009-2010 Federal Budget. This Federal Budget item aims to improve quality and safety in vaccine management.

From August 2010, practices will need to have appropriate processes in place that maintain the potency of vaccines. The specific requirements that practices will need to meet are outlined in The Australian Immunisation Handbook, Chapter 1.3.2 of the 9th edition. Practices should use the information in the Handbook as a self-assessment tool to determine whether they meet the vaccine management guidelines. General practices will also be required to have current public liability insurance and all GPs working from the practice will be required to have professional indemnity cover.

Practices currently participating in the Practice Incentives Program will be automatically considered to meet the entry requirements relating to vaccine management, public liability insurance and professional indemnity cover.

A further letter will be sent by Medicare Australia in February 2010 with an application form to be returned to Medicare Australia confirming that they meet the new GPII requirements. A third mail out will occur at the end of March 2010. This mail out will be to practices that have not responded to the February 2010 mail out.
Practices that have not returned the GPII interim application form by 30 April 2010 will not be eligible to receive an outcomes payment in August 2010.

The Commonwealth website has up to date information for health professionals at http://www.healthemergency.gov.au/internet/healthemergency/publishing.nsf/Content/healthprof other information about influenza can be found on the NCIRS web site page;
http://www.ncirs.edu.au/immunisation/fact-sheets/index.php.

Misconceptions about the pandemic vaccine Panvax have been in circulation via hoax emails and internet blog sites and this has caused concerns for practices.  CSL has updated the www.panvaxh1n1.com.au  website to include a new section to assist with answering patient enquiries regarding 'myths' about the vaccine. Information about all aspects of the pandemic H1N1 influenza 09 vaccination program can be found at the Commonwealth’s site www.healthemergency.gov.au.

The vaccination program for the pandemic H1N1 influenza 09 is ongoing and there are various resources available from the Department of Health and Ageing.  There are posters and brochures providing information about the adult and children’s vaccine.

A letter from the Chief Medical Officer Professor Jim Bishop, Pandemic H1N1 brochure and poster was forwarded to GPs, Obstetricians and Paediatricians on Friday 12 February 2010. Copies of the posters can be downloaded from the website www.healthemergency.gov.au  or by phoning 1800 020 103. For any information about the H1N1 vaccination program, the Commonwealth has a hotline set up - phone 180 2007.

Time is running out for GPs to receive payments for HPV vaccinations notified to the National HPV Vaccination Program Register.  To receive notification payments for outstanding HPV vaccination data (six dollars per dose notified), notifications must be received by 31 March 2010.

Payments can only be made for HPV vaccinations given to eligible consumers where data are received in an accepted format with all complete mandatory information (GP Provider number, patient name and address details, date of birth, Medicare number, vaccination date and dose number). GPs must have submitted their details using the official HPV registration form in order to receive payment.

GPs should not resubmit notifications which have already been provided to the Register as this will delay processing and payment of other notifications.
For those GPs who have not yet registered with the HPV Register, who would like assistance with how to submit notifications or who wish to check if notifications have been received, contact the register on 1800 478 734 (1800 HPV REG).