Effective uptake and delivery of immunisation relies on the availability and distribution of vaccines and the availability of current information to primary health care professionals and the public. A national coordinated approach facilitates this and, as core business of primary health care, immunisation results in the reduction of communicable diseases.

This program focuses on the recent changes to the National Immunisation Program Schedule (due to commence on November 1st 2005) and the basic principles for safe vaccine management. The special vaccination needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and the specific changes to the schedule are discussed. Case study discussion focuses on the challenges of setting up an immunisation program in an Aboriginal community – what are the challenges, how can it be made sustainable, and what models are available.

At the end of this program viewers will understand:

• the program changes to the immunisation schedule which commences on 1st November 2005, including the National Varicella Vaccination Program, the polio IPV to Polio OPV vaccine
• the changes to the immunisation schedule in relation to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children
• the recent changes to basic principles for safe vaccine management
• the challenges and appropriate models of setting up a successful immunisation program in an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community

- Chair: Dr Norman Swan, Presenter of the Health Report on ABC Radio National.
- Professor Peter McIntyre, Director, National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance, Sydney.
- Dr Rod Pearce, General Practitioner, Adelaide & Chair AMA Council of General Practice.
- Ms Leila Kennett, Program Co-ordinator (Child Health), Nganampa Health Council.
- Sue Campbell-Lloyd, Manager Immunisation Program, New South Wales Department of Health.
- Dr Christine Selvey, Head, Immunisation Centre for Disease Control, NT Department of Health & Community Services.

82 minutes.

You can view a summary of the latest Childhood Immunisation Schedule in chart form, updated as at 1/11/05 (28k PDF).

This program was first broadcast live on the Foundation's satellite network on Tuesday 11 October 2005 and was repeated on Friday 14 October 2005.

This program is accredited for CPD/CPE by the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners, the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine, the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia and the Australian Physiotherapy Association. Click here to evaluate this program and earn professional development points.

Visit our resources page for a list of immunisation resources.

Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing

- 809 Rheumatic Heart Disease: All But Forgotten
- 709 Rheumatic Fever
- 403 Infectious Diseases: Management and Control
- 107 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Childhood Immunisation