From 1 July 2020, there are changes to the National Immunisation Program (NIP) which affect pneumococcal, meningococcal and hepatitis A vaccination.
The changes to pneumococcal immunisation are as follows:
Non-Indigenous Australians
- The vaccine funded for older non-Indigenous Australians on the National Immunisation Program will be 13vPCV (Prevenar 13), instead of 23vPPV (Pneumovax 23).
- The age for immunising older Australians has been raised from 65 years and over to 70 years and over.
- All non-Indigenous adults who don’t have a medically at-risk condition for pneumococcal disease who turn 70 after 1 July 2020 should have one dose of Prevenar 13, even if they have previously had Pneumovax 23.
- All non-Indigenous adults who are already over 70 on 1 July 2020 are also eligible for a single funded dose of Prevenar 13.
Indigenous Australians
- For Indigenous Australians, pneumococcal immunisation is NIP funded at age 50 years plus. This encompasses 1 dose of 13vPCV and 2 subsequent doses of 23vPPV.
- Young Indigenous children in NT, Qld, SA, and WA – in addition to the 4 doses of 13vPCV they already receive, should also now be given 2 NIP-funded doses of 23vPPV pneumococcal vaccine.
Medically at-risk groups
People with certain medical risks/conditions are now eligible for NIP-funded pneumococcal vaccine – one dose of 13vPCV at diagnosis and 2 doses of 23vPPV later. These conditions are:
- Functional or anatomical asplenia
- Pneumococcal at risk medical conditions (Some are NIP-funded – the list has been revised and simplified to a new single list of conditions – See Table 1 of the Clinical decision tree for vaccination providers for the Updated list of conditions with eligibility for funding).
This table summarises the changes
| Pneumococcal vaccines: summary of changes 1 July 2020 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Vaccine | Non-indigenous older adults | Medically at risk | Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people |
| Prevenar 13 (13vPCV) |
|
|
|
| Pneumovax (23vPPV) | No longer recommended | ||
myDr.com.au has a lot more information for your patients on immunisation – on childhood immunisations, on immunisation for older Australians, and on all the individual vaccine-preventable diseases, such as pneumococcal disease.
More information for Health Professionals
NSW Immunisation Schedule changes – 1 July 2020 – Health professional FAQs
Clinical update: National Immunisation Program (NIP) changes form 1 July 2020 – advice for immunisation providers: https://www.health.gov.au/news/clinical-update-national-immunisation-program-nip-schedule-changes-from-1-july-2020-advice-for-vaccination-providers
National Immunisation Program Schedule: https://www.health.gov.au/health-topics/immunisation/immunisation-throughout-life/national-immunisation-program-schedule
