Past workshops and conferences
2009
Preventing Cervical Cancer: Integrating Screening and Vaccination
The Victorian Cytology Service Inc (VCS), in association with the National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance of Vaccine Preventable Diseases (NCIRS), is proud to be the organiser of Preventing Cervical Cancer 2009: Integrating screening and vaccination (PCC2009)
PCC2009 will brought together international and Australian experts in cervical screening, vaccination and cancer epidemiology to debate and explore current and future directions in the prevention of cervical cancer. It provided a forum for these experts to share their vision and influence policy development in the prevention of cervical cancer.
Australia’s cervical screening program is amongst the most successful in the world. Now, coupled with our world-leading commitment to population-based vaccination for high-risk HPV, Australia is poised to develop highly effective new models for cervical cancer prevention that could eventually lead to the almost total eradication of this disease.
National meeting on pneumococcal disease (July 2009)
Selected presentations now available below:
- Should Aboriginal children get both pneumococcal vaccines? - by Amanda Leach
- How well is the 23vPPV working in the non-indigenous elderly? - by Rob Menzies
- How well is the 23vPPV working in indigenous adults? - by Rob Menzies
- Pneumococcal epidemiology in the conjugate vaccine era - can non-vaccine serotype replacement in carriage predict disease serotypes? - by Amanda Leach
- PCR in pneumococcal disease diagnosis (and surveillance) - by Lyn Gilbert
Second Indigenous Immunisation Research Workshop (July 2009)
Selected presentations now available below:
- A Systems Approach to Improving Immunisation Timeliness - by Ross Bailie
- NHMRC Centre for Clinical Research Excellence in Child and Adolescent Immunisation - by Terry Nolan
- Immunisation Priorities for OATSIH - by Dr Geetha Isaac-Toua
- Immunisation issues – ACCHS perspectives - by Jenny Hunt
- Centre for Clinical Research Excellence in Aboriginal Health: Sexually transmitted and bloodborne viral infections - by James Ward
- Estimates of hepatitis B infection - by Nick Wood
- Universal Paediatric Influenza Vaccination: The Western Australia Experience - by Paul Effler
- Immunisation of Indigenous people: Achievements and challenges - by Rob Menzies
- Women, HPV, Indigenous, non-Indigenous Urban Rural study - by Telphia Joseph
2007
SEMINAR: Developing and communicating about immunisation policy - the bit we don't talk about (September 2007)
This seminar was given by Professor David M Salisbury CB FRCP FRCPCH FFPH, Director of Immunisation, Department of Health, United Kingdom.
Summary
The development of immunisation policy in the UK is similar to the model of other industrialised countries: an independent expert advisory committee reviews evidence that it receives, makes recommendations to the Government and these are applied throughout the UK. Where there are differences are in the arrangements for management of the programme.
A team of around 20 individuals within the Department of Health manages the strategy development and implementation. Their work spans the bringing together of scientific evidence, the purchase, supply and distribution arrangements for vaccines, the informatics systems for the immunisation programme and the communications work that informs and supports immunisation implementation.
The UK programme uses the usual process and outcome measurements that are routine (coverage and disease surveillance) but also monitors public knowledge and attitudes about immunisation with equal priority. Given the extent of investment especially in new vaccines, it is of increasing importance that consumer attitudes are monitored and reflected in programme management. This aspect of programme management requires skills specific to the task and that should be integral within national programmes.
View a copy of Professor Salisbury's presentation - Developing and communicating about immunisation policy - PDF
Communicable Diseases Control Conference (March 2007)
NCIRS staff presented a number of posters at the recent CDC conference in Canberra. The biennial national conference is held under the auspices of the Communicable Diseases Network Australia and the Public Health Laboratory Network. PDF copies of the posters can be accessed below.
Pandemic Influenza: Sydney Business Leaders discuss the possible Impact in a Focus Group - Ralf Itzwerth
An earlier 2nd dose of MMR? Insights from modelling - James Wood
Pertussis epidemiology in Australia over the decade 1995-2005: trends by region and age group - Helen Quinn
Age-specific trends in varicella hospitalisations in Australia prior to a universally funded program - Anita Heywood
IX International Symposium on Respiratory Viral Infections (March 2007)
NCIRS staff presented a number of posters at this recent conference in Hong Kong. PDF copies of the posters can be accessed below.
Active surveillance and early intervention with oseltamivir for controlling influenza outbreaks in aged care facilities - Clayton Chiu
An Outbreak of Influenza B at a Chronic Care Psychogeriatric Hospital - Holly Seale
Australian Government Funds Rotavirus vaccine (28 March 2007)
Two Rotavirus vaccines will be included on the National Immunisation Program, Rotarix® from GlaxoSmithKline and RotaTeq® from CSL Limited.
The new vaccine will be given orally to babies from two to six months of age, commencing in July 2007. All babies born from 1 May 2007 will be eligible for the free vaccine. Two or three doses, depending on the brand administered, will generally be given at the same time as other immunisations at around two, four and six months of age. more...
TGA statement on Gardasil adverse events (6 December 2007)
The Theraputic Goods Administration released a summary of reported adverse events following the distribution of over 2.2 million doses of the human papillomavirus vaccine in Australia. This statement is available at the Department of Health and Ageing Therapeutic Goods Administration website.
2006
NCIRS Varicella Zoster Virus Workshop (November 2006)
A 2-day workshop on the varicella zoster virus was held in Sydney on the 16-17th November 2006. Prominent international guest speakers included Professor Myron Levin (US), Professor Anne Gershon (US) and Professor Judith Breuer (UK).
Vaccine Preventable Diseases and Vaccination Coverage in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People, Australia, 2003 to 2006.
This is the second NCIRS publication focussing on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. It includes the latest detailed data on 9 major vaccine preventable diseases, as well as vaccination coverage in children and adults. This publication is now available at the Communicable Diseases Intelligence website.
2005
Breakthrough in TB vaccine?
Release of Vaccine Preventable Diseases and Vaccination Coverage in Australia, 2003 to 2005 publication
NCIRS is proud to announce the publication of Vaccine Preventable Diseases and Vaccination Coverage in Australia, 2003 to 2005, which is the fourth national report into Australia’s progress in preventing diseases through vaccination.
The report provides an overview of the 16 diseases preventable by currently available vaccines. These include the 12 for which vaccines were funded nationally for children by the end of 2005 (diphtheria, Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) disease, hepatitis B, invasive pneumococcal disease, measles, meningococcal C disease, mumps, pertussis, poliomyelitis, rubella, tetanus and varicella), and another 3 vaccines only funded or recommended for specific high-risk groups (hepatitis A, influenza and Q fever). Rotavirus, for which new vaccines became available in 2006, is also included.
The report can be found at the Communicable Diseases Intelligence website.
