Immunisation

WentWest provides support to general practice through resources, education and practice visits on Immunisation.

Service and Support Areas

• Vaccines and vaccination schedules
• Vaccine Storage
• Annual Vaccine fridge temperature data logging service
• Cold chain management training
• General Practice Immunisation Incentive Payments (GPII)
• GPII registration
• Increasing immunisation rates
• Assistance with Data Cleansing
• Recording and reporting immunisation
• Reporting childhood immunisations to the Australian Childhood Immunisation Register (ACIR)
• Using the ACIR website to record immunisations
• Using Clinical software to transmit immunisation notifications
• Recall and reminder systems for immunisation
• Childcare Centre Information Packs
• WentWest provides immunisation information packs to local childcare centres.

4-year-old Immunisation Bike Competition

All children who receive their 4-year-old immunisation between 1st September 2011 and 30th November 2011 are eligible to win one of five bikes or one of ten “Walter the Wombat” runner-up prizes.

For Practices

All children who receive their 4-year-old immunisation between 1st September 2011 and 30th November 2011 are eligible to win one of five bikes or one of ten “Walter the Wombat” runner-up prizes.

 

If you would like assistance with running the competition in your practice or setting up a reminder system to let eligible patients know about it please contact your Area Services Coordinator.

 

4-year-old Bike Competition Resources

Bike Competition 4 y.o. Reminder Letter - Medical Director

Bike Competition 4 y.o. Reminder Letter - Best Practice

Searching for 3.5-4 y.o. Children in Medical Director

Searching for 3.5-4 y.o. Children in Best Practice

 

For Patients

It is important your child receives their full immunisation on time. This means they will be protected from serious illness and infection and ready to attend school.

The following practices are participating in the WentWest 4-year-old Bike Competition:

 

Practice Name	Postcode
Aboriginal Medical Service Western Sydney (AMS)	2770
All Saints Medical Centre	2151
Auburn Health Care Centre	2144
Badami Family Medical Practice	2145
Bawrunga Aboriginal Medical Service	2148
Bidwill Family Practice	2770
Blackett Medical Practice (Dr Christopher C K Soo)	2770
Blacktown Family Medical Centre	2148
Bridgeview Medical Practice	2146
Chiswick Road Medical Centre	2144
Darcy Road Surgery	2145
Dellwood Medical Centre	2142
Dr Cheng John Street Practice	2141
Dr J Mitchells Surgery	2148
Dr Lai's Surgery	2145
Dr S Sundars Surgery	2146
Dr S Yeuns Surgery	2146
Dr V Govindan Family Practice	2141
Dr Vathany Jeyaprakashs Practice	2147
Eastbrooke Medical Centre	2148
Ermington Family Medical Practice	2115
Family Medical Practice (Auburn)	2144
Family Medical Practice (Mount Druitt, Dr Fachkha)	2770
Frontline Medical Centre	2150
Glory Medical Centre	2141
Greysmed Practice Pty Ltd	2145
Greystanes Family Doctors	2145
Greystanes Family Medical Practice	2145
Hassall Grove Plaza Medical Centre	2761
Holroyd Medical Practice	2160
Kildare Road Medical Centre	2148
Lidcombe Medical Centre	2141
M C Medical Centre	2148
Marayong Medical Centre	2148
Medlife Medical Practice	2148
Merrylands Medclinic and Specialist Centre	2160
Metella Road Family Practice	2146
Mount Druitt Village Medical Centre	2770
NAS Advanced Medical Centre	2144
Northmead Family Medical Centre	2152
Northmead Family Medical Practice	2152
Priority Medical Centre	2150
Rainbow Medical Practice	2767
Richmond Road Family Practice	2761
Rivaside Medical Practice	1750
Seven Hills Family Medical Centre	2147
Synergy Medical Centre	2148
Telopea Medical Practice	2117
The Practice	2148
Toongabbie Medical Practice	2146
Twinkle Medical Centre	2152
United Care Medical Centre	2141
Whalan Family Medical	2770
Wigram St Family Medical Practice	2150

 

Competition Terms and Conditions

Competition starts 1st September 2011 and ends on 30th November 2011 at 5.00pm.
To enter patients must attend a general practice within the WentWest (full list of postcodes on the WentWest website at: www.wentwest.com.au under Immunisation). Children must receive their 4 year-old-vaccinations in the competition timeframe to be eligible to win. Limit one entry per child. Winners and the general practices will be announced on 12th December 2011 at 9.30am at the WentWest Office, Level 1, 85 Flushcombe Road Blacktown. All bikes will be Unisex. Promoter: WentWest Limited and Local Health District Permit Details: LTPS/11/06215

 

Immunisation Updates

Important Information on Immunisation Schedule and Family Payment

From 1st July 2012 the Maternity Immunisation Allowance will cease and the Family Tax Benefit Part A Supplement check points and payments will begin.

Also, from 1st July 2013 MMRV will be added to the National Immunisation Program Schedule. For a child to be considered fully immunised, they will need to have received Meningococcal C, Pneumococcal and Varicella vaccinations in addition to the current DTP, MMR, Hib, Polio and Hep B. For a full fact sheet on these changes, please click here.

Health Start for School Initiative

'Healthy Start for School' was introduced by the government on 1st July 2011 to help make sure that children are healthy, fit and ready to learn when they start school. If you and/or your partner receive an income support payment at any time during the financial year in which your child turns four, your child is required to undergo a relevant health check. If the health check is not completed, part or all of your Family Tax Benefit Part A Supplement for your child will be withheld. For more information, click here.

Issues Surrounding Influenza vaccination and the fluvax brand with ACIR

There have been a number of cases around Australia where immunisation providers have been entering Fluvax as the influenza vaccine on ACIR for children; this vaccine is not to be used for children aged 5-10 years. For children in this age group it is recommended that Vaxigrip and Influvac are used.

Influenza vaccination in pregnancy

A specialist panel was recently convened to review the risk of influenza to pregnant women and infants. The panel reviewed evidence that supports the benefits of influenza vaccination in pregnancy for the mother, newborns and infants. As a result, the panel is requesting General Practitioners and antenatal care providers restore efforts to help boost the uptake of the influenza vaccine among pregnant women.  The NSW Health influenza website has been updated with resources and links to new published studies to support  influenza vaccination and pregnant patients. Please see: http://www.health.nsw.gov.au/PublicHealth/Infectious/influenza/index.asp

Introduction of Prevenar 13 vaccine

Prevenar 13, will replace the current Prevenar 7 vaccine on the National Immunisation Program. This vaccine is to be given at 2 months (or as early as 6 weeks), 4 months and 6 months of age.When Prevenar 13 is delivered, providers should discard any remaining stock of Prevenar 7 in fridges and make certain that all vaccinations using Prevenar 13 are notified to the Australian Childhood Immunisation Register (ACIR).

As soon as it becomes available information about the Prevenar 13 catch-up program for children aged 12 - 35 months scheduled for 1 October 2011 to 30 September 2012 will be provided to practices.

NSW Measles Alert

NSW Health has been notified of 29 cases of Measles. Due to its infectious nature, if you have any patients who present to the surgery with symptoms of the measles ensure you have them isolated from the main waiting room. Contact the Public Health Unit immediately on (02) 9840 3603, they will organise urgent testing for the patient.

To reduce the spread of Measles continue to immunise children and 12 months and 4 years with MMR, take every opportunity to ensure that any patient who was born during or after 1966 have been given two doses of MMR, and also look for opportunistic immunisations for people who are going to be travelling overseas.

 

Congratulations to Practices

WentWest would like to congratulate the following practices for receiving 100 per cent immunisation rates in the May 2011 GPII calculation:

• Doonside Medical Complex
• Dr John Sung Surgery
• Dr J. F. Mitchell Surgery
• Dr Samuel Lim Medical Centre

 

Health Alerts and Disease Specific Information

Prevenar 13 from DoHA

Pneumovax 23 Advice

2011 Measles Alert

Seasonal Influenza Vaccination 2011

Bug Bulletin

Dec 2011 Bug Bulletin

September 2011 Bug Bulletin

July 2011 Bug Bulletin

May 2011 Bug Bulletin

January 2011 Bug Bulletin

 

Australian Childhood Register

The Australian Childhood Immunisation Register (ACIR) provides reports to help immunisation providers identify children who are due or overdue for immunisation. When a vaccination is given to a child, details should be sent promptly to Medicare Australia to be included on the ACIR.

An information (notification) payment of up to $6.00 is made to immunisation providers who administer and notify the ACIR of a vaccination that completes one of the age-based immunisation schedules funded under the National Immunisation Program.

To sign up to ACIR online, or for training on how to use the website, please contact your Area Service Coordinator.

• ACIR Guides for MD2 and Prac3 Transfer
• ACIR Guide to the secure site
• ACIR secure site Flow Chart
• Australian Childhood Immunisation Register (ACIR)

General Practice Immunisation Incentive Program

The General Practice Immunisation Incentive (GPII) provides financial incentives to General Practices for monitoring, promoting and providing appropriate immunisation services to children under the age of seven years.

The aim of the GPII is to encourage at least 90 per cent of children under seven years of age attending their practices. An outcomes payment of $3.50 per WPE is paid to practices quarterly for immunisation rates of 90 per cent and above; the practice does not have to be accredited to receive this payment. To sign up to the GPII please contact your area service coordinator

• General Practice Immunisation Incentive Scheme
• Understanding GPII Fact Sheet
• 46E Agreement
• GPII 20A Report Application

 

Links and Resources

• 9th Edition Immunisation Handbook
• Myths and Realities Handbook
• Immunisation Manual 2009
• Information on purpose built vaccine fridges
• NSW Health Flu Order Form
• NSW Health GP vaccine order forms
• Immunisation Sites and Schedule
• Prevaccination Screening Checklist
• Immunisation Financial Model
• Adverse Reactions
• Conscientious Objector form
• Medical Contraindication form

Cold Chain Management

• Strive for 5 National Guidelines
• Daily Logging Chart
• How to pack a fridge
• Thermometer Companies List

HPV Register

• HPV Register Website
• HPV Reporting to the Register  (MD), (Best Practice)
• HPV Register FAQs

Staff Immunisation

• GP Factsheet
• Healthcare worker policy
• AGPAL Staff induction Checklist
• Staff Immunisation Refusal and Consent form

More Information

To find out more about Immunisation, contact the WentWest Immunisation Facilitator on (02) 8833 8000 or email support@wentwest.com.

Latest News

Western Sydney Medicare Local progress update, click here to read