Updates to the Handbook
A list of updates made to the Handbook is provided below by the date they were published. The Handbook will be reviewed 3 times per year following ATAGI meetings in February, May and August. Urgent updates to the content will be made as required.
Recently added
This page was added on 06 June 2018.
Updates made
This page was updated on [date-counter-updated-date]. View history of updates
2 May 2025
The following pages were updated:
Administration of vaccines
Updates to include detail on multidose vials, removal of vaccines no longer available, guidance on vaccination under sedation, and addition of advice on vaccine administration errors.
After vaccination
Updates to advice for adrenaline autoinjectors, myocarditis, GBS and rash following VZV vaccination.
Cholera
Link added to Vaccination for people who are immunocompromised chapter and figure describing types of medical conditions and immunosuppressive therapy and associated levels of immunocompromise.
COVID-19
Addition of tables in recommendations section to improve clarity of guidance, updating of immunocompromising and medical conditions list to align with other chapters, removal of information for outdated products.
Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib)
Guidance on the minimum interval (i.e. 4 weeks) between each Hib dose updated for haematopoietic stem cell transplant recipients to ensure consistency with recommendations in “Haematopoietic stem cell transplant: recommendations for vaccination” in the Vaccination for people who are immunocompromised chapter.
Addition of text on coadministration with monoclonal antibodies.
Japanese encephalitis
Link added to Vaccination for people who are immunocompromised chapter and figure describing types of medical conditions and immunosuppressive therapy and associated levels of immunocompromise.
Measles
Amendment of text to clarify MMR vaccines are contraindicated mainly for people who are severely immunocompromised to align with the updated guidance in Vaccination for people who are immunocompromised chapter.
Addition of text and guidance to clarify precautions of MMR vaccination for people who are mildly or moderately immunocompromised” to align with the updated guidance in Vaccination for people who are immunocompromised chapter.
Addition of text describing coadministration of MMR vaccine with RSV monoclonal antibody.
Mumps
Amendment of text to clarify MMR vaccines are contraindicated mainly for people who are severely immunocompromised to align with the updated guidance in Vaccination for people who are immunocompromised chapter.
Addition of text and guidance to clarify precautions of MMR vaccination for people who are mildly or moderately immunocompromised” to align with the updated guidance in Vaccination for people who are immunocompromised chapter.
Addition of text describing coadministration of MMR vaccine with RSV monoclonal antibody.
Preparing for vaccination
Updates to remove any references to products no longer available (NeisVac-C, Cervarix, Spikevax, Zostavax, Nuvaxovid and Fluarix Tetra) and updates to the pre-vaccination screening checklist.
Q fever
Link added to Vaccination for people who are immunocompromised chapter and figure describing types of medical conditions and immunosuppressive therapy and associated levels of immunocompromise.
Rabies and other lyssaviruses
Amendment of definitions of level of immunocompromise to align with the updated definitions in Vaccination for people who are immunocompromised chapter.
Rotavirus
Addition of text to provide guidance on rotavirus administration to infants born to mothers who received biological immunosuppressive therapies during pregnancy to align with the updated guidance in “Infants exposed to immunosuppressive therapy in utero or through breastmilk” in Vaccination for people who are immunocompromised chapter.
Addition of text describing coadministration of rotavirus vaccine with RSV monoclonal antibody.
Rubella
Amendment of text to clarify MMR vaccines are contraindicated mainly for people who are severely immunocompromised to align with the updated guidance in Vaccination for people who are immunocompromised chapter.
Addition of text and guidance to clarify precautions of MMR vaccination for people who are mildly or moderately immunocompromised” to align with the updated guidance in Vaccination for people who are immunocompromised chapter.
Addition of text describing coadministration of MMR vaccine with RSV monoclonal antibody.
Tuberculosis
Addition of text on contraindications of BCG vaccine to include other immunocompromised populations, such as solid organ transplant and HSCT, and updated advice for people with inborn errors of immunity, HIV and secondary immunodeficiency due to immunosuppressive therapies.
Typhoid fever
New text providing advice on precautions for administering the oral live typhoid vaccine to close contacts of immunocompromised people, to avoid the theoretical risk of transmitting the vaccine strain virus.
Vaccination for international travellers
Link added to Vaccination for people who are immunocompromised chapter and figure describing types of medical conditions and immunosuppressive therapy and associated levels of immunocompromise.
Vaccination for people who are immunocompromised
An updated immunocompromised chapter offers comprehensive information and recommendations for people who are immunocompromised. The chapter provides clear immunocompromise definitions and categorises the level of immunocompromise across various types of conditions, including inborn errors of immunity, secondary immunodeficiencies due to medical conditions or therapies, asplenia, infants exposed to immunosuppression in utero, immunocompromised close contacts, and immunocompromised travellers. This chapter will serve as a primary reference for detailed information and vaccination guidance tailored to each immunocompromising condition, in alignment with specific disease chapters.
Vaccination for women who are planning pregnancy, pregnant or breastfeeding
Addition of text to clarify guidance of non-live vaccine administration to infants born to mothers receiving immunosuppressive therapies during pregnancy to align with the updated guidance in “Infants exposed to immunosuppressive therapy in utero or through breastmilk” in Vaccination for people who are immunocompromised chapter.
Addition of text to provide guidance on live vaccine administration to infants born to mothers who received biological immunosuppressive therapies during pregnancy, particularly to rotavirus vaccine recommendations, to align with the updated guidance in “Infants exposed to immunosuppressive therapy in utero or through breastmilk” in Vaccination for people who are immunocompromised chapter.
Varicella (chickenpox)
Amendment of text to clarify varicella vaccines are contraindicated mainly for people who are severely immunocompromised to align with the updated guidance in Vaccination for people who are immunocompromised chapter.
Addition of text and guidance to clarify precautions of varicella vaccination for people who are mildly or moderately immunocompromised” to align with the updated guidance in Vaccination for people who are immunocompromised chapter.
Addition of text describing coadministration of varicella vaccine with RSV monoclonal antibody.
Yellow fever
Addition of text and evidence of immunogenicity in haematopoietic stem cell transplant recipients vaccinated with yellow fever vaccine.
Amendment of text to clarify yellow fever vaccines were contraindicated mainly for “people who are severely immunocompromised” to align with the updated guidance in Vaccination for people who are immunocompromised chapter.
Addition of text and guidance to clarify precautions of yellow fever vaccination for “people who are mildly or moderately immunocompromised” to align with the updated guidance in Vaccination for people who are immunocompromised chapter.