The introduction of immunisation has saved millions of lives and dramatically decreased mortality and suffering. Immunisation is arguably one of the greatest achievements of medical science leading to the eradication of some diseases and the near eradication of others. Unfortunately, because many diseases were on the brink of eradication, many parents have been choosing not to have their children vaccinated, leading to the return of some diseases such as whooping cough.

The immunisation program aims to increase immunisation coverage and to ensure General Practices are able to provide and improve immunisation services to the community.

To achieve these aims, the program utilises the following strategies:

• Improving immunisation coverage rates across the Network, particularly in those practices that have a coverage rate of less than 90%
• Collaboration with the local Public Health Unit, other networks and state-based organisations to provide an informed and effective immunisation program
• Provide and maintain access to useful immunisation resources to assist General Practice staff in keeping up-to-date with information and improving immunisation coverage rates
• Support General Practices with data management and administration in relation to immunisation
• Telephone support and advice
• Practice-based support and visits on request
• Cold chain monitoring advice, including a data logging service
• Assistance with understanding Australian Childhood Immunisation Register (ACIR) data cleaning and reporting
• Distribution of resources and information from state and national organisations to practices
• Monitoring the immunisation rates of practices

Adverse immunisation events:

The Children’s Hospital at Westmead has a dedicated Immunisation Adverse Events Service. Immunisation providers can ring 9845 1414, and ask for the Immunisation Adverse Events Clinical Nurse Consultant, for telephone advice about AEFI in children and adults. The service can also review children and adults in a dedicated specialist clinic.

Resources

• Conscientious objection form
• Medical contraindication form
• Immunisation history form
• NSW_ImmunSchedule - Vaccination Sites
• Catch Up Vaccination Advice for GP
• GPNSW Pre-vaccination screening  checklist
• SCHEDULE GPNSW  NSW Pathway August 2010
• GPNSW_Immunsiation-a-guide-for-Practice-staff
• Ten tips for evaluating Immunisation Information
• GPNSW comparisons of effects of vaccines and disease
• GPNSW ACIR Secure Site Flow Chart
• GPNSW Anaphylaxis Response Kit
• Immunisation Aftercare
• NSW Schedule to Immunisation
• GPNSW Immunisation - Finding Reliable Information

Cold Chain Management

NSGPN provides practices with the opportunity to check and improve upon their cold chain management through our data logging service.

A data logger is a small device which is placed in a practice’s vaccine fridge and will record the date, time and temperature of the fridge in timed increments for 5-7 days. Once this is complete, your Primary Care Support Officer will download the data and be able to provide the practice with a graph of readings to see that your vaccine fridge has remained between 2°C and 8°C.

This is a confidential service and NSGPN advises that you contact your local Public Health Unit (Hornsby 9477 9400) if there are any temperature fluctuations.

If you would like to have this service in your practice, contact NSGPN Primary Care Support Officer on 9411 3533.

Resources

KISS GUIDE TO VACCINE MANAGEMENT, Keep it Simple and Safe! Your quick reference guide to the National Vaccine Storage Guidelines: Strive for Five, maintaining effective storage and management of vaccines.

Vaccine fridge log template

GEneral Practice Immunisation Incentives Scheme

GPII enquiry line 1800 246 101

The General Practice Immunisation Incentives (GPII) Scheme was introduced in 1998 to support the central role GPs play in preventive health care through immunisation.

The GPII Scheme offers financial incentives to GPs who provide immunisation services to children under the age of seven years, according to the National Immunisation Program (NIP).

One of the primary aims of the GPII Scheme is to encourage at least 90% of practices to fully immunise 90% of children below seven years of age attending their practice.

General practices are central to improving the Nation’s childhood immunisation coverage because they have significant levels of contact with children. Each consultation is an opportunity for monitoring a child’s immunisation status and for providing immunisation services if required.

Through Medicare Australia, the GPII Scheme provides statistical reports for both practices and divisions. These reports are a valuable tool for developing strategies aimed at increasing immunisation coverage rates for practices, and for division program staff.

Statistical information on the GPII scheme can be accessed at  www.medicareaustralia.gov.au

To be eligible to participate in the GPII, the practice must:

• Meet the Royal College of General Practitioners (RACGP) definition of a general practice
• Have appropriate vaccine management processes in place that maintain the potency of vaccines
• Have current public liability insurance
• Ensure that all practice general practitioners (GPs) have professional indemnity cover

Forms for GPII

• Understanding-GPII-Fact-Sheet
• pip-gpii-application-form
• section-46e-agreement
• gp-immunisation-incentives-practice-report-request-gpii02a

Top 5 Practices for the GPII - November 2011 Quarter

These practices' results were all above 96%

1. St Leonards Medical Centre
2. High Street Surgery
3. West Lindfield Family Medical Practice
4. Artarmon Medical Centre
5. Dr S Collings

Top 5 Practices for the GPII where WPE is between 600-1600 - November 2011 Quarter

These practices' achieved results between 92.5 & 95%

1. Crows Nest Medical Practice
2. Northbridge Medical Practice
3. General Practice Cremorne
4. Lane Cove Family Medical Practice
5. Chatswood 24 Hour Medical Centre

USEFUL WEBSITES FOR GENERAL PRACTICE

National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance  http://www.ncirs.usyd.edu.au/  Includes the following information: MMR Decision Aid – for parents concerned about the Measles, Mumps, Rubella vaccine. Several useful fact sheets for GPs and patients on specific vaccines and vaccination issues.

Immunisation Catch-up Calculator South Australian website which will calculate which vaccines are required (in any State) when details of overdue child are entered.
http://www.health.sa.gov.au/immunisationcalculator/immunisation-check.htm

Australian Childhood Immunisation Register (ACIR) All GPs should report immunisation encounters in children under 7 years to the ACIR. You can do this via paper vouchers, the ACIR website, or via Medicare Online. www.medicareaustralia.gov.au/provider/patients/acir/index.jsp

Chain of Protection (consumer information about immunisation) http://www.chainofprotection.org/

General Practice Immunisation Incentives (GPII) Scheme Information on registration and benefits to the practice. www.medicareaustralia.gov.au/provider/incentives/gpii/index.jsp

Immunise Australia Program Commonwealth Government website. Information on vaccination programs and initiatives, publications etc http://www.immunise.health.gov.au/

NSW Health (Immunisation) Information on immunisation programs in NSW and details of school-based programs http://www.health.nsw.gov.au/living/immunisation/index.html

Cervical Cancer Vaccine site: http://www.cervicalcancervaccine.org.au/ 

National Institute of Clinical Studies: Influenza information Information on influenza infection and vaccine http://www.fightflu.gov.au/asp/index.asp site.

Immunisation for Indigenous community http://www.immunise.health.gov.au/internet/immunise/publishing.nsf/Content/atsi2i

Avian / Pandemic Influenza: NSW Health Department’s Pandemic Preparedness site: www.health.nsw.gov.au/publichealth/pandemic/index.asp