Changes to the shingles vaccine available under the National Immunisation Program (NIP) came into effect from 1 November 2023. The shingles vaccine Shingrix has replaced Zostavax on the NIP. A 2-dose course of Shingrix will be available free for: People aged 65 years and older First Nations people aged 50 years and older Immunocompromised people aged 18 years and older with the following medical conditions: Haemopoietic stem cell transplant Solid organ transplant Haematological malignancy Advanced or untreated human immunodeficiency virus […]

The Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) vaccine called AREXVY has been approved for use in Australia. Produced by GlaxoSmithKline, it is the first vaccine developed for the prevention of lower respiratory tract disease caused by RSV in individuals aged 60 and over, and has been approved by The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA). AREXVY has already received approval for use in several countries, including the UK, the European Union, the US, Canada, and Japan.

On 2 September 2022, Australian Health Ministers announced reforms to ensure doctors performing cosmetic surgery are appropriately qualified and work to the highest health safety standards expected in Australia. As part of these reforms the Commission developed a National Licensing Framework and National Safety and Quality Cosmetic Surgery Standards. The Cosmetic Surgery Standards were officially launched on 14 December 2023, following broad consultation with consumers, clinicians, services, professional and peak bodies, regulators and other representatives of the sector. The National […]

Australian Standards have released the long-awaited new standard for reprocessing of reusable medical devices and other devices in health- and non-health-related facilities.  Relevant settings including general practice and office- and community-based practice, the standard is now being reviewed by the government, and implementation timelines are expected in 2024.  

The objective of Clean Hospitals Day, celebrated each year on October 20, is to raise awareness and foster engagement among healthcare facilities around the world.  

With the theme “Stay Up to Date. Vaccinate!”, Immunisation Foundation of Australia (IFA) announced the creation of Australia’s inaugural Whooping Cough Day on November 8. The day highlights the ongoing threat posed by whooping cough (pertussis) and encourages Australians of all ages to remain up to date with booster vaccination. The campaign reminds people to check their whooping cough immunisation status, provides practical information about boosters and how to access them, and emphasises the importance of adult, pregnancy, and childhood […]

The World Health Organization (WHO) announced on the 29 September, the recommendations for the viral composition of influenza vaccines for the 2024 influenza season in the southern hemisphere. The announcement was made at an information session at the end of a 4-day meeting on the Composition of Influenza Virus Vaccines, a meeting that is held twice annually. WHO organizes these consultations with an advisory group of experts gathered from WHO Collaborating Centres and WHO Essential Regulatory Laboratories to analyse influenza virus […]

World Rabies Day is celebrated every year on the 28th September – the anniversary of the death of Louis Pasteur (who developed the first rabies vaccine), to raise awareness about rabies prevention and to highlight progress in defeating this disease. This year, the theme focuses on the need for collaboration of animal and human health professionals in eliminating rabies to achieve the global goal of ‘Zero by 30’ – global elimination of dog-mediated rabies deaths by 2030, the most common […]

The national COVID-19 Vaccination Training Program will be closing as of 1 October 2023.  From this date the Department of Health and Aged Care will no longer be producing the new COVID-19 Vaccine Training Modules and the COVID-19 e-learning platform will close. Completion of the national training will remain a mandatory requirements up to and including Saturday 30 September 2023.  The learning platform will continue to be available as module completion and certificate downloads will still be required during this […]

This Sunday is World Patient Safety Day, a global movement to champion safer healthcare practices. This year’s World Patient Safety Day theme, ‘Engaging patients for patient safety’, highlights the vital role patients and consumers play in shaping the safety and quality of our healthcare system. Patient and consumer voices shape our practice, improve outcomes, and contribute to a positive safety culture. Working in partnership with patients, their families, carers and the wider community is critical to achieving a healthcare system […]