Updates to the Handbook

Addition of information for some vaccines to catch-up resource tables. Addition of meningococcal vaccine catch-up tables. Updates to Hib catch-up table for improved clarity and correct typographical errors. Updates to catch-up resource tables and within text to provided guidance on higher valency pneumococcal vaccines.

Editorial updates to improve the clarity of information for NIP funding for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children.

Addition of new evidence and references around immune blunting following maternal vaccination. Addition of information in the epidemiology section regarding risk of future pertussis outbreaks despite the low notification rates in 2021 during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Editorial updates to improve the clarity of information for 2-visit schedule doses. 

Editorial updates to clarify that varicella vaccine should be recommended for adolescents aged ≥14 years and adult who are non-immune. 

New RSV chapter has been developed to provide information on recommendations for use of RSV immunisation products.

Recommendations include use of RSV vaccines in adults and pregnant women and use of long-acting RSV monoclonal antibodies in infants and young children.
 

Updates throughout the chapter including:

• new recommendations for further doses of COVID-19 vaccine every 6 months for adults aged ≥75 years, every 12 months and consider every 6 months for adults aged 65–74 years, and consider every 12 months for adults aged 18–64 years; people aged ≥6 months with severe immunocompromise are recommended further doses every 12 months and can consider a dose every 6 months
• new recommendations for 1 primary dose of COVID-19 vaccine for adults aged ≥18 years; 2 primary doses with consideration of a 3rd for people aged >6 months with severe immunocompromise; a single primary dose can be considered for children aged 5 to <18 years with other medical conditions that may increase the risk of severe COVID-19
• a table of severely immunocompromising conditions and treatments
• a simplified table of other conditions for which COVID-19 vaccines can be considered

Updates include:

• Updates throughout the chapter with wording changed from the "standard vaccine" to "standard-dose egg-based" and "standard-dose cell-based" vaccine to differentiate between egg-based and cell-based standard-dose influenza vaccines. 
• Addition of a new table replacing the list of specified medical conditions associated with increased risk of influenza disease and severe outcomes. 
• Updates to recommendations for co-administration with examples including the new RSV vaccines.

Update to reflect the availability of purified Vero cell rabies vaccine (Verorab) as an intramuscular injection and the reclassification of human diploid cell vaccine for rabies as a vaccine to be administered by the intramuscular route only.

Updates throughout the chapter to reflect the availability of Vaxchora oral live attenuated cholera vaccine.

Updates throughout the page to reflect the availability of Verorab rabies vaccine and Vaxchora cholera vaccine.

Changes to the clinical guidance around pre-exposure prophylaxis schedules, with the inclusion of a 2-dose option. Updates throughout the chapter to reflect the availability of Verorab vaccine.

Updates throughout the page to reflect the availability of Vaxchora oral cholera vaccine and Verorab rabies vaccine.

Update to page to reflect the availability of Verorab inactivated rabies vaccine.

Update to Table. Vaccines that are contraindicated in pregnancy: live attenuated vaccines to reflect the availability of oral cholera vaccine.

Guidance updated to note the first cervical screening in women at 25 years of age as an opportunity to offer catch-up HPV vaccination for anyone who is unvaccinated. Additional guidance added to note situations where vaccination may need to be considered for children aged <9 years of age (e.g. have a history of sexual abuse or have been diagnosed with a sexually transmitted infection). In these children, a subsequent dose should be given as routinely recommended, ideally at age 12-13 years.

Updates throughout the chapter to reflect that Omicron XBB.1.5 vaccines are now preferred for use in a primary course and as further doses. Other vaccine types are acceptable, but Omicron XBB.1.5-containing vaccines are preferred. Other changes reflect the availability of the new vaccine formulations and unavailability of older vaccines (such as the Spikevax original 6 months - <5 years formulation).

Minor update to include information regarding Shingrix and Guillain–Barré syndrome.

Update to clinical guidance regarding Zoster vaccination in Table. Catch-up schedule for people ≥10 years of age (for vaccines recommended on a population level).

Update to clinical guidance regarding Recombinant Zoster vaccine (Shingrix) in Table. Recommended vaccines for people before and after a solid organ transplant and Table. Recommendations for revaccination after haematopoietic stem cell transplant in children and adults.