Vaccine Update 323 - 2023 Government-Funded Influenza Immunisation Program

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Vaccine Update 323 - Government-funded Influenza Immunisation Program

30 March 2023

KEY MESSAGES

Annual influenza is the most important measure to prevent influenza and its complications. Influenza vaccination is recommended for all persons aged 6 months and over.

All vaccinations must be recorded on the Australian Immunisation Register (AIR).

Government-funded influenza vaccines will be available to order from early April 2023.

For adults aged 65 years and over, the adjuvanted influenza vaccine (Fluad® Quad) is preferentially recommended.

Eligibility for government-funded influenza vaccines is listed on the WA Immunisation Schedule.

Providers are highly recommended to review the 2023 Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) Statement on the administration of seasonal influenza vaccines.

Providers are advised to schedule influenza vaccination clinics after your service has received enough vaccine doses.

The Department of Health will keep you updated as key information becomes available.

SEASONAL INFLUENZA VACCINATION IN 2023

Key points

Immunisation providers are required to report all influenza vaccinations administered to the AIR, this includes National Immunisation Program (NIP), State-funded, and privately purchased vaccines.

In 2022, there was a resurgence of influenza virus circulation arising from the reopening of international borders. In 2023, seasonal influenza activity is expected to continue and the importance of influenza vaccination should be emphasised.

ATAGI has released important clinical advice to support immunisation providers ahead of the influenza season; see: Statement on the administration of seasonal influenza vaccines in 2023.

Due to the change in seasonal influenza formulation, persons who received a 2022 influenza vaccine late 2022 or early 2023 are still recommended to receive a 2023 formulation of influenza vaccine when it is available.

People who are planning international travel should ensure they have had a 2023 influenza vaccination before departure.

Influenza vaccines can be co-administered (given on the same day) as any COVID-19 vaccine.

For those aged 65 years and over, whilst it is acceptable to co-administer Fluad® Quad and Shingrix® on the same day, given the limited data on co-administration of these adjuvanted vaccines, it is recommended to separate administration of these two products by a few days.

Influenza vaccine strains included in the 2023 Southern Hemisphere seasonal influenza vaccines

Information for pregnant persons

Influenza vaccine is recommended in every pregnancy and at any stage of pregnancy.

For those who received an influenza vaccine in 2022, it is recommended to also give the 2023 influenza vaccine if it becomes available before the end of pregnancy.

For those who received an influenza vaccine before becoming pregnant or during 2022, revaccination with the 2023 influenza vaccine is recommended during pregnancy to maximise the protection of the mother and the infant in the first six months of life.

Influenza vaccine can be safely given at the same time as a pertussis vaccine and/or COVID-19 vaccine.

Eligibility criteria for government-funded influenza immunisation program
The NIP and the WA Department of Health provides free influenza vaccines for people most at risk. This includes:

All Aboriginal persons aged 6 months and over
Children aged 6 months to under 5 years
Primary school aged children (pre-primary to Year 6)
Persons aged 6 months or over who have medical conditions such as:
- heart disease
- kidney disease
- chronic respiratory conditions
- chronic illnesses that required regular medical attention or hospitalisation in the previous year
- chronic neurological conditions
- immunocompromising conditions
- haematological disorders
- diabetes and other metabolic disorders
- children aged 6 months to 10 years receiving long-term aspirin therapy.
Pregnant persons (at any stage of pregnancy)
Persons aged 65 years and older (a vaccine that is specifically designed to produce a higher immune response is available for this group).
Vulnerable persons aged 6 months and older, including persons experiencing homelessness and residents in congregate living settings, such as residential aged care, disability care, mental health hostels and youth group houses, who are not otherwise eligible for a NIP vaccine.

Refer to WA Immunisation Schedule and the Influenza chapter on the Australian Immunisation Handbook for detailed advice, vaccine dosage, and contraindications.

Vaccine brands available
The table below indicates the use of vaccine brands in WA for eligible persons.

Ordering and distribution of vaccines

Government-funded influenza vaccines are planned to be available to order by early April 2023.

There will be sufficient quantities of vaccine for all persons eligible for a government-funded influenza vaccination in WA.

Providers should review their storage capacity for 2023 influenza vaccines and determine if additional storage needs to be arranged. Vaccines should be stored in accordance with the National Vaccine Storage Guidelines 'Strive for 5'.

Weekly ordering will be available for the first six weeks to help providers manage clinics and storage.

Reporting cold chain breaches and vaccine wastage

All 2022 influenza vaccines have expired and should be recorded as wastage expiry and disposed of immediately to avoid vaccine administration errors.

As a condition of receiving government-funded vaccines, providers must follow the WA cold chain protocol, available on the WA Department of Health Cold Chain Management webpage.

Providers must advise their WA Health Public Health Unit when a cold chain breach occurs or to seek thermal stability advice for other incidents where government-funded vaccines are involved.

Keep up to date with current information

Visit Influenza immunisation (health.wa.gov.au) and direct consumers to Influenza (flu) immunisation (healthywa.wa.gov.au).
The Immunisation Update: Influenza module has been updated for 2023. Refer to the Annual Immunisation Update modules on the Immunisation Education webpage. All WA immunisation providers are encouraged to complete the module annually.

This communication should be read in conjunction with information available in the Australian Immunisation Handbook and the WA Immunisation Schedule.
For more information on the 2023 influenza vaccination program, please refer to the Australian Government’s Early Advice.

Thank you for your ongoing commitment to protecting Western Australians from influenza.

Darren Westphal
A/MANAGER, IMMUNISATION PROGRAM
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH

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