ImmunisationJo Hillbrick

Program Coordinator:  Jo Hillbrick

 

Email:  j.hillbrick@gpasouthgippsland.com.au  

 

The GPA South Gippsland Immunisation Program supports General Practitioners and Practice Nurses providing the current Immunisation schedule to children and adults in the General Practice setting.  Most vaccines are funded by the National Immunisation Program, however some are recommended but not funded.

 

Please ensure that you have completed a form 46E which registers you with the Australian Childhood Immunisation Register and enable your clinic to receive their current lists of children who are due and overdue for immunizations.  You will only need to fill in the 46E form if you have come to a Practice from another country or state, or if you are just commencing in General Practice.

 

The GPA South Gippsland Immunisation Program is able to assist you with Immunisation queries or refer you to the most appropriate place.

 

Prior to performing any Immunisation it is suggested that you provide the patient with a pre Immunisation checklist to ensure their informed consent and suitability for vaccination on that day.


In Victoria, from 1 March 2008, the routine schedule of vaccines provided free under the National Immunisation Program is as follows:


Routine schedule of vaccines from 1 March 2008

Age

Diseases

Brand name

Birth
  • Hepatitis B
  • HB VaxII Paediatric

2 months
  • Diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, hepatitis B, poliomyelitis,   Haemophilus influenzae type b
  • Pneumococcal
  • Rotavirus 
  • Infanrix hexa
  • Prevenar
  • RotaTeq

4 months
  • Diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, hepatitis B, poliomyelitis, Haemophilus influenzae type b
  • Pneumococcal
  • Rotavirus 
  • Infanrix hexa
  • Prevenar
  • RotaTeq

6 months
  • Diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, hepatitis B, poliomyelitis, Haemophilus influenzae type b
  • Pneumococcal
  • Rotavirus 
  • Infanrix hexa
  • Prevenar
  • RotaTeq

12 months
  • Measles/mumps/rubella
  • Haemophilus influenzae type b
  • Meningococcal C
  • Priorix
  • Hiberix
  • NeisVacC

18 months
  • Chickenpox
  • Varilrix

4 years
  • Diphtheria/tetanus/pertussis/polio
  • Measles/mumps/rubella
  • Infanrix IPV
  • Priorix

Year 7
Secondary School
  • Hepatitis B
  • Chickenpox
  • Human papillomavirus (girls only)
  • HB VaxII Adult
  • Varilrix
  • Gardasil

Year 10
Secondary School
  • Diphtheria/tetanus/pertussis
  • Boostrix

Non-immune women planning pregnancy or shortly after delivery
  • Measles/mumps/rubella
  • Priorix

50 years
  • Diphtheria/tetanus
  • ADT Booster

Over 50 years
(Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander people)
  • Influenza
  • Pneumococcal
  • Influenza
  • Pneumovax 23

Over 65 years
  • Influenza
  • Pneumococcal
  • Influenza
  • Pneumovax 23


Budget changes to immunisation SIP

 

The $18.50 Service Incentive Payment (SIP), paid on the completion of each age section of a child’s immunisation schedule, will be discontinued from October 2008. Eligible services given up to and including 30th September will receive the SIP as long as the notification is received by ACIR before the end December 2008. The Government claims that the pay cut for GPs is only around $1500 per year, and that this gives the Department great savings for little pain.

GP providers will continue to receive the Australian Childhood Immunisation register (ACIR) notification payment of $6.00 per immunisation encounter.

The PIP Service Outcomes Payment, available for practices that achieve 90% or greater coverage of children fully immunised for age, will continue.

MBS item numbers for immunisation services provide by practice nurses on behalf of GPs will continue (item 10993 @ $10.85 per service).

The Divisions Network funding for GPII support has not been affected by the Budget savings measures; 12 month contracts will be offered, as they have in previous years.

The Government will change the Maternity Immunisation Allowance (MIA) to encourage all parents to fully immunise their children before they start school. The MIS is currently paid for children 18-24 months who are fully immunised (or exempt). From 1 January 2009 the MIA will be paid in two instalments indexed twice yearly: the first instalment when the child is between 18-24 months, the second instalment when the child is aged between 4 years 3 months and 5 years.

The Department's Practice Incentives Section says, "Across Australia, the current immunisation rate of children between 12 months and 7 years of age is 90%. In addition to funding general practices to provide immunisation, the Government also funds States and Territories to provide vaccines in schools and community health centres. Under the Maternity Immunisation Allowance scheme the Government also provides incentives to parents once their children reach a certain immunisation status."

 

Related Documents

Australian Immunisation Handbook 9th Edition
Immunisation Program Brochure
Pnuemococcal vaccination guidelines for Adults

 

For further information please contact Jo Hillbrick RN 1, Accredited Vaccinator and Immunisation Coordinator for GPA South Gippsland or the Department of Human Services Immunisation Information line on 1300 882 008.