H1N1 Vaccination Program
The Australian Government is planning and coordinating a national vaccination campaign to protect people from the pandemic influenza virus, H1N1 influenza 09 (also known as human swine influenza). The vaccine is called the H1N1 Pandemic influenza vaccine (Panvax ®).
The vaccine is manufactured in Australia by CSL Biotherapies, which has been producing seasonal vaccines for many years. The vaccine has been registered for use in Australia by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA). http://www.tga.gov.au/alerts/medicines/h1n1vaccine.htm
GPs and AMS’s can now order the vaccine from NSW Health. Order forms and further information is available from the NSW Health H1N1 Pandemic vaccination website http://www.emergency.health.nsw.gov.au/swineflu/vaccination/index.asp.
As the majority of the program will be delivered through general practice numerous resources to support the implementation of this program are currently being developed. These will be made available to immunisation providers once the program commences.
Panvax® will be presented in a multi dose vial. There are two sizes; 10ml vial (18dose) and a 5ml vial (10 dose). As multi dose vials have not been routinely used for vaccination in Australia for many years, it has been necessary to develop Guidelines for Vaccination using Multi Dose Vials. These Guidelines were developed by ATAGI and can be downloaded here. Further resources to support immunisation providers in appropriate use of multi dose vials will be made available as the program is implemented.
The Chief Medical Office has released a Position Statement: Priority groups for pandemic (H1N1) vaccine program which defines these target groups. Click here to view
For updated information on the H1N1 Vaccination Program in NSW, visit http://www.emergency.health.nsw.gov.au/swineflu/vaccination/index.asp.