NICC 4.6 is available

Updated pneumococcal recommendations

NICC 4.6 includes updated pneumococcal recommendations for eligible people aged 18–19 years with specified medical conditions.

Changes include:

• introduction of the 21-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (21vPCV)
• removal of the 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (23vPPV) from future schedules
• updated minimum intervals between previous pneumococcal vaccinations and future 20vPCV or 21vPCV doses.

Previous 23vPPV doses are still considered when calculating the timing of future pneumococcal doses.

Refined recommendations for people vaccinated overseas

NICC can now distinguish between vaccinations administered in Australia and overseas.

Vaccinations administered overseas using recognised Australian vaccine brands and consistent with the National Immunisation Program schedule are treated in the same way as vaccinations administered in Australia.

Additional catch-up rules may apply where vaccinations administered overseas:

• used generic or other vaccine products
• were administered at different schedule points
• followed a schedule that differs from the Australian schedule.

Specific catch-up recommendations have also been introduced for people who received hepatitis B vaccinations overseas.

Refined antigen grouping

Antigen-grouping rules have been refined to support the use of hexavalent vaccines when DTPa, polio, hepatitis B and Hib are due within four weeks of each other.

Hexavalent grouping applies when a paediatric DTPa dose is recommended. It does not apply when an adult dTpa, dT-only, adult hepatitis B or dialysis hepatitis B dose is recommended.

Other updates

NICC 4.6 also includes the following bug fixes and refinements, along with performance improvements to enhance the overall user experience:

• corrected meningococcal ACWY and meningococcal B recommendations in some catch-up scenarios
• corrected dTpa booster recommendations for people who have completed cancer treatment, including whether doses are funded or available at cost
• refined post-haematopoietic stem cell transplant schedules to correctly apply minimum intervals after transplantation
• expanded HIV medical at-risk options using age-specific CD4 counts
• clarified National Immunisation Program funding for some Hib and hepatitis B doses recommended after a haematopoietic stem cell transplant
• refined no-vaccination periods before and after certain treatments, surgeries and procedures
• improved medical at-risk information presented during pre-calculation screening
• improved the display of antigen names across different screen sizes.

These changes align the calculator with version 4.6 of the NICC Business Rules Specification.

Exclusions

Influenza antigens and vaccines

NICC 4.6 includes messaging about annual influenza vaccination but does not include influenza vaccines in generated schedules.

Launch the National Immunisation Catch-up Calculator

Visit the Announcements page for information about:

• new features
• enhancements
• major releases
• service updates.

Subscribe to the mailing list to receive updates about the Australian Immunisation Handbook website, app and NICC.

Refer to the page history for information about bug fixes and minor refinements.

If you identify an issue or have a suggestion, use the feedback form.