17 February 2025
Amendments to the Australian Immunisation Register Rule 2015
From 1 March 2025, vaccination providers will be required to report pregnancy status at the time of vaccination to the Australian Immunisation Register (AIR).
This change aims to improve the reliability of immunisation data, which is crucial for monitoring coverage rates and the safety and effectiveness of maternal vaccines.
Providers will have two options for submitting antenatal information to the AIR:
- Antenatal indicator: This new indicator will be rolled out into clinical software throughout 2025. It is important that vaccination providers update their software to access this new functionality.
- Vaccine type field: In cases where the antenatal indicator is not yet available in clinical software, the antenatal information can be submitted using the ‘Antenatal’ option under the ‘Vaccine type’ field.
View AIR eLearning portal for various health professional educational resources to assist with these changes.
Victorian Mpox Vaccination program update
The Victorian Government has updated the eligibility criteria for the Mpox vaccination program, which provides the JYNNEOS® vaccine to at-risk individuals.
Key updates include:
- Two doses of mpox vaccine at least 28 days apart are required for optimal protection against severe disease. Â
- Medicare eligibility is not required for a free JYNNEOS@ vaccine.Â
- Importantly, the vaccine is not currently recommended as a routine travel vaccine. However, should be offered to:
- People who meet the current criteria for PPV and have not completed a two-dose schedule and are planning travel. Â
- Any individual prior to travel in countries with transmission of clade I mpox (regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity) who may engage in sexual risk activity.
- Healthcare or humanitarian workers at risk of occupational exposure to mpox.
For more details on the program information, individuals are encouraged to visit the Victorian Department of Health Mpox webpage.
