Vaccination not only protects individuals, but also others in the community, by increasing the general level of immunity and minimising the spread of infection. It is vital that health-care professionals take every opportunity to vaccinate children and adults. It is important that the public be made aware of the proven effectiveness of immunisation to save lives and prevent serious illness. 8th Edition Immunisation Handbook

The Division role is to enable General Practice to continue to provide and improve their immunisation services to the wider community.

Key objectives of the immunisation program:

• Assisting practices with immunisation coverage rates below 90%.
• Maintain a good working relationship with other stake holders like SSWAHS Public Health, Wingecarribee Council, SBO and other Divisions and the Alliance.
• Provide up to date information regarding all facets of immunisation and vaccine preventable diseases through practice visits, education sessions etc.
• Assist administration staff with immunisation data, recalls and ACIR immunisation encounters.
• Data logging of vaccine fridges to ensure cold chain guidelines are followed therefore resulting in viable vaccines.

Contact

GPs and practice staff can access the Immunisation program by contacting the Division directly by phone, fax, mail or email. Appropriate appointments and visits from Division and other key stakeholders (eg. NSW ACIR Field Officers etc.) can be arranged as required. The useful websites and contacts below can also assist GPs and practice staff if Division staff are unavailable.

Cheryl works one day per week and can be contacted directly by email.

Fact Sheets and Resources

Fact sheet for children with chronic conditions and the pandemic influenza vaccine
Fact sheet for health care workers and the pandemic influenza vaccine
Swine flu brochure DL size
Swine flu poster A3 size
Chief Medical Officer on Panvax February 2010

Useful Websites

NSW Health: www.health.nsw.gov.au

Royal Australian College of General practitioners: www.racgp.org.au

World Health Organisation www.who.int/vaccines/

Department of Health and Ageing: www.immunise.health.gov.au

National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance: www.nhmrc.gov.au

Australian Childhood Immunisation Register: www.medicareaustralia.gov.au

National Network for Immunisation Information: www.immunizationinfo.org

Vax em: www.vaccination.org.au

Useful Contacts

NSW ACIR Field Officers:
02 9895 3073

South Sydney West Health Service Public Health Unit Immunisation Unit:
02 9515 9420

Alliance of NSW Divisions:
02 9239 2934