Topic: Immunisation

Vaccines are safe, effective and essential.

This is Elderslie GP, Dr Matthew Gray’s message to the community as South Western Sydney PHN launches a new campaign to encourage every person across the region to become an ‘immunisation hero’.

“Vaccinations play a vital role in keeping each of us healthy,” said Dr Gray, an experienced GP and former SWSPHN Board Chair.

“Like eating well or exercising regularly, vaccination is one of the most effective and safest preventative care measures available in a developed society like ours.

“We all need to be reminded vaccine-preventable viruses or bacteria can and do cause serious illness and even death, and they haven’t gone away.”

“There have been concerning and ongoing declines in childhood vaccination coverage since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, with somewhat greater declines in coverage in adolescents than in other age groups”.

Dr Gray said he had seen more vaccine hesitancy in the past few years, which could be related to misinformation on social media or post-COVID-19 vaccine fatigue.

“Patients want to know more about the importance of and the reason for vaccinations,” he said.

He says concerns include a fear of serious side effects which are “extremely rare”, the impacts of vaccination on their immune system (“exposure to the ingredients in a vaccine is tiny compared to everything we are exposed to on a daily basis just living in our environment”) and the effectiveness of vaccines compared to natural immunity.

“Vaccines are a safe and effective way to develop immunity, without the risks associated with getting an infection which can have serious consequences, including death,” he said.

Dr Gray said vaccination was not only important during childhood but vital across a person’s life, whether it be young adults being vaccinated against HPV or meningococcal, or older people or immunocompromised people being vaccinated against influenza.

He stressed vaccine-preventable illnesses – measles, whooping cough and meningitis, for example – still existed, still caused harm and were potentially fatal. 

“Vaccinations can and do save lives by limiting the outbreak of vaccine-preventable diseases in our community. They’re important for the individual and to protect others in the community who might not be able to get vaccinated because they are too young or too unwell.”

Dr Gray said he had seen the consequences when people had not been vaccinated.

“I’ve seen a teenager who got meningitis because they hadn’t been vaccinated against chickenpox. Working in an emergency department, I saw babies who came in with meningococcal disease who hadn’t been vaccinated,” he said.

“While these things are rare, they do still happen.

“I travel to parts of Africa where outbreaks of these illnesses are more common, and I’ve seen people who have been impacted as a result of some of these diseases.”

Dr Gray highlighted the positive stories – the “illnesses they haven’t gotten” – of people who had been vaccinated.

“An older person who didn’t develop shingles who tells me about how their friend had shingles and how unwell they’ve been. Or the parents of a young child or children who was able to keep attending daycare or school, while their friend has been very unwell or sick and had to take time off school.

“They’re so glad they have had the vaccination. They have been able to work, to holiday, to be with family and friends – all those things we find important in life.”

Dr Gray said patients should talk to their GP if they had questions about vaccination.

“GPs have a strong role to play, both to educate patients about vaccines and to administer vaccines,” he said.

“We’ve also got a role in helping make people aware of what vaccines are available and their eligibility, and to put out recall notices to remind people to get their vaccinations.

“Ensuring people can access primary care so they can access these services, is also important”.

The Department of Health, Disability and Ageing has announced changes to the National Immunisation Program childhood pneumococcal schedule, following advice from the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation.

From 1 September 2025, Prevenar 20 will replace Prevenar 13 and Pneumovax 23. All First Nations children will now receive four doses, ensuring national consistency.

From 1 September 2025, children should receive Prevenar 20 based on their current vaccination status:

• non-First Nations children without risk conditions, who are yet to start the pneumococcal schedule should receive three doses of Prevenar 20 at two, four and 12 months of age
• all First-Nations children and children diagnosed with any risk conditions listed in the Australian Immunisation Handbook, who are yet to start the pneumococcal schedule, should receive Prevenar 20 at two, four, six and 12 months of age
• all children who have received one or two doses of Prevenar 13 should receive Prevenar 20 for all subsequent doses to complete the recommended vaccination course, where required
• children who have completed their vaccination course with Prevenar 13 and are due for any dose of Pneumovax 23 should receive one dose of Prevenar 20 instead. Pneumovax 23 may still be used while stock remains available
• children aged more than 12 months and less than 17 years newly diagnosed with any risk conditions listed in the Australian Immunisation Handbook should receive Prevenar 20 at diagnosis

Find out more:

National Immunisation Program schedule

Advice for health professionals

Consumer fact sheet

Frequently asked questions

This article appeared in Practice Pulse on Wednesday, 13 August 2025. If you are a GP, practice nurse or practice manager in South Western Sydney and do not get the weekly Practice Pulse email, speak to your Practice Support Officer.

New respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) resources have been published, and existing resources updated to reflect the age extension of Arexvy among adults aged 50 to 59 years with medical risk conditions which increase the risk of severe disease.

There are also changes to wording around the upper gestational age for the administration of Abrysvo.

Department of Health, Disability and Ageing

ATAGI statement on RSV administration errors – new

RSV vaccine and monoclonal antibody poster – new

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) products – updated

RSV frequently asked questions – updated

RSV vaccine consumer fact sheet – updated

Australian Immunisation Handbook

Clinical guidance table – new

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) – updated

National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance

RSV immunisation landing page

RSV – frequently asked questions – updated

RSV immunisation products – updated

RSV immunisation products efficacy and safety – updated

NCIRS clinical guidance on administration errors – updated

This article appeared in Practice Pulse on Wednesday, 13 August 2025. If you are a GP, practice nurse or practice manager in South Western Sydney and do not get the weekly Practice Pulse email, speak to your Practice Support Officer.

The South Western Sydney Local Health District has issued a measles alert for South Western Sydney. 

There is an increased risk of measles associated with travellers, especially people returning from Vietnam.

Background:

• There are several measles outbreaks overseas, particularly in South-East Asia (most notably Vietnam), the Middle East and some states in the USA (in particular Texas).

Clinical Assessment:

• Suspect measles in returned travellers presenting with fever and any of the following: cough, coryza, conjunctivitis or rash, particularly if there is an unclear history of measles vaccination.

Action:

• Isolate case from waiting room on arrival (reception staff should be informed of the risk)
• Have the case wear a mask
• Call the Public Health Unit ASAP (preferably while the patient is still in the consulting room) on 1300 066 055 (business hours) or 8738 3000 (after hours – Liverpool Hospital switch)
  • PHU can guide you through the process
• Testing:
  • Nasal/throat swab for measles PCR, and
  • First pass urine sample for measles PCR
  • Mark form as ‘Urgent’
  • Ensure pathology service aware

Advise the patient:

• To isolate at home until test results are received
• That PHU will be calling them, and encourage them to engage with us
• Provide a measles factsheet:
  • English
  • Other languages