05 March 2024
The Department of Health and Aged Care has provided 2024 influenza season advice including:
Further advice and resources will become available in advance of the program rollout in April.
Vaccination providers and health professionals can also get the latest National Immunisation Program updates by subscribing to the Department of Health and Aged Care email list.
Additional vaccine advice:
COVID-19 advice
Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV)
01 February 2024
Benchmarque Group is hosting two new virtual workshops focusing on catch up immunisations.
Basic Catchups for Immunisation – find out more.
This workshop will be held on Saturday, 2 March and Saturday, 11 May, from 8.30am to 11.30am.
Complex Catchups for Immunisation – find out more.
This workshop will be held on Saturday, 13 April and Saturday, 8 June, from 8.30am to 11.30am.
These workshops are open to all individuals, regardless of whether they have completed immunisation education with the Benchmarque Group. The workshops cost $95.
18 December 2023
The end of the year is fast approaching, which means a lot of people are travelling overseas.
While we have high levels of vaccination coverage, we can still get exposed to serious diseases while visiting other countries.
Before heading overseas these holidays, people are encouraged to add vaccinations to their travel checklist.
This means:
- checking their vaccination status online through MyGov or the Express Plus Medicare mobile app
- checking Smartraveller if they need any vaccines for their destination, and
- booking a vaccination appointment before they leave
By vaccinating we can protect ourselves, children and the community from serious diseases which are not common in Australia.
The National Immunisation Program also provides free vaccinations for children from birth to four years old.
Making sure our children are up-to-date and getting vaccinated according to the schedule means they are protected from viruses and diseases which are present in other countries.
As health professionals, you can encourage your patients ahead of travelling to get vaccinated and recommend vaccines for their overseas destinations.
You can use the Smartraveller.gov.au website to guide your advice and help your patients stay safe this holiday period.
Find out more
03 November 2023
A downloadable, Routine Childhood Immunisation health professionals’ kit, is available on the Department of Health and Aged Care website.
This toolkit is designed to support you in conversations with parents and carers about childhood immunisation.
The kit contains:
- answers to common questions from parents and carers
- immunisation clinical support
- links to support tools to use when discussing vaccination with parents, whether the parents are ready to vaccinate their children, have questions, or intend to decline vaccination
- printable materials you can display or hand out at your clinic
- social media and newsletter suggestions
- specific materials for First Nations and multicultural audiences
There are also a range of simple animations covering why timing is important, how vaccines work, and the safety of vaccines.
06 September 2023
All vaccinating general practices in NSW must adhere to mandatory vaccine storage and cold chain management requirements to ensure vaccines are stored in accordance with best practice guidelines.
The Public Health Unit (PHU) is conducting random audits in South Western Sydney to ensure practices are adhering to cold chain management guidelines, in response to the growing number of breaches related to COVID-19 vaccines.
It is important for practices to ensure all staff have completed the NSW Health Vaccine Storage and Cold Chain Management online learning module, and the COVID-19 Vaccination Training Program, to prevent cold chain incidents.
Relevant training:
Vaccine Storage and Chain Management Module
COVID-19 Vaccination Training Program
Additional information:
Vaccine storage and cold chain management
If you have a clinical question, please contact SWSPHN’s Clinical Support team via email at clinicalsupport@swsphn.com.au
01 September 2023
All vaccinating general practices in NSW must adhere to mandatory vaccine storage and cold chain management requirements to ensure vaccines are stored in accordance with best practice guidelines.
The Public Health Unit (PHU) is conducting random audits in South Western Sydney to ensure practices are adhering to cold chain management guidelines, in response to the growing number of breaches related to COVID-19 vaccines.
It is important for practices to ensure all staff have completed the NSW Health Vaccine Storage and Cold Chain Management on-line learning module, and the COVID-19 Vaccination Training Program, to prevent cold chain incidents.
Relevant training:
Vaccine Storage and Chain Management Module
COVID-19 Vaccination Training Program
Additional information:
Vaccine storage and cold chain management
If you have a clinical question, please contact SWSPHN’s Clinical Support team via email at clinicalsupport@swsphn.com.au
02 August 2023
Information about free walk-in flu vaccination clinics in South Western Sydney is available in five languages.
Download these flyers:
English/Assyrian
English/Simplified Chinese
English/Vietnamese
English/Arabic
English/Traditional Chinese
22 June 2023
With winter here, viruses including influenza (flu), COVID-19 and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) are around.
During colder weather, we are more likely to catch these respiratory illnesses which can be serious.
NSW Health is encouraging everyone aged six months and over to get a flu shot as soon as possible. It is the best way to prepare for winter and will help reduce their risk of getting seriously ill this winter.
The flu shot is free for people who are at higher risk of severe illness. This includes:
- Children aged six months to under five years
- Pregnant women
- People aged 65 years and over
- People with serious health conditions
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 6 months and over
Adults at higher risk of severe illness, and those aged 65 years and over, are also recommended to have a free COVID-19 booster dose. You can receive your 2023 booster if it has been more than six months since your last COVID-19 vaccination dose, or a confirmed infection.
For influenza and COVID-19 information in your language, visit:
Download posters and social tiles:
- Posters and social tiles to promote awareness of simple hygiene practises to help protect against influenza.
- Informational posters and social tiles for parents and carers of young children promoting flu shots.
31 May 2023
Influenza vaccination fact sheets and posters are now available for your practice to utilise.
The Department of Health and Aged Care has produced a series of resources to assist practices to inform their patients about the influenza vaccine.
The “Fighting flu starts with you – Consumer fact sheet” is available in 11 languages, ready to be printed and handed to your patient to help them with their decision to vaccinate.
Download the “Fighting flu starts with you” consumer fact sheet
English
Simplified Chinese
Traditional Chinese
Arabic
Vietnamese
Italian
Tagalog
Greek
Hindi
Punjabi
Korean
Other consumer and provider resources include a poster, more topical consumer fact sheets, and program advice. Find these new resources on DoHA’s website:
Getting vaccinated against influenza – Resource collection.
