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 the opportunity to vaccinate children & adults. It is important the public be made aware of the proven effectiveness of immunisation to save lives and prevent serious illness. 9th Edition Australian 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 stakeholders like SSWAHS Public Health, Wingecarribee Council, SBO, other Divisions and the General Practice NSW.
• Provide up to date information regarding all facets of immunisation including schedule changes and new vaccines and vaccine preventable diseases through practice visits, education events, email/faxed alerts, newsletters etc.
• Assist administration staff with immunisation data, data cleaning, recalls and ACIR immunisation encounters.
• Vaccine fridge data logging and cold chain management to ensure cold chain guidelines are followed therefore resulting in viable vaccines.
• Training new staff in all facets of immunisation.

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

Which practices offer which immunisations?  May 2010
Rotarix statement for providers 29 March 10
Q&A re DNA fragments in Rotarix 21 April 2010
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:
Julia Strudwick    02 9895 3115
Katy Zanatta       02 9895 3991

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

Alliance of NSW Divisions:
02 9239 2934