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The book, published in January 2013, is based on infromation provided by the HistoryofVaccines.org website which is well worth a visit even if only to watch the animated timeline showing the history of diseases, epidemics, vaccine discovery and development and public health measures to protect people against disease.

The book is only available from Amazon.

Children aged four and under who have been hospitalised for respiratory illness or who, in the opinion of their GP, have a history of significant respiratory illness will be eligible for free influenza vaccine from 1 April 2013. The background to PHARMAC's decision is available on their Influenza webpage.

General Practitioners (GPs) have the discretion to determine whether a child meets the significant respiratory illness criteria.

Download the  PHARMAC notification: Amendment to influenza vaccine funding criteria.

GSK have issued a letter to general practices outlining the changes. The appearance of the single dose packaging has already changed for privately purchased stock from Healthcare Logistics.

Normal supplies of Typhim VI™ have resumed in New Zealand following the worldwide recall of several Typhim Vi™ vaccine batches (Salmonella Typhi Vi polysaccharide vaccine) on 25 September 2012. The vaccine is indicated for active immunisation against typhoid fever in children from two years of age and adults.

New Zealand is in the midst of a pertussis epidemic. PHARMAC recently sought feedback on a proposal to extend funded Boostrix® for pregnant women in addition to those aged 11 years as per the National Immunisation Schedule.

Considerations and commentary around this decision are available in the  PHARMAC media release.

The New Zealand arm of the Global Poverty Project will be launching a number of new and exciting initiatives in 2013 centred around the worldwide elimination of polio. Their aim is to increase public engagement in The End of Polio campaign and celebrate the phenomenal efforts of Rotary, UNICEF and others. Details of events will be available on their website.

GAVI is a unique public-private global health partnership committed to saving children’s lives and protecting people’s health by increasing access to immunisations in developing countries. Since 2001 they have helped to vaccinate 370 million children in the world’s poorest countries, helping to prevent more than 5.5 million deaths in the future.

In her column Shanks reported that in the last ten years Myanmar children have had access to an immunisation programme throughout most of the country’s regions because of the behind the scenes work by GAVI. However, issues still exist in relation to securing a cold chain, delivery of vaccines into remote areas, the availability of midwives and the availability of statistics to understand the demand for immunisation.

She notes that Myanmar, a nation of extremes from 18 lane highways in Nay Pyi to one lane roads in rural areas where an ox and cart are the normal form of transport, has faced many decades fraught with conflict and is undergoing enormous change as it emerges from five decades of economic and political isolation. Yet the future looks hopeful for the people of this nation because Myanmar people are resilient and have the desire for significant change to better help their communities.

The vaccine, Boostrix®, is available through general practice (GPs).

The District Health Board (DHB) will pay for the vaccine. However, providers may charge the patient a small vaccine administration fee. Please ask your GP about any vaccine administration cost.

Who is eligible?

• Only family/whānau of infants less than one year of age already receiving immunisations through the following services:
  • An outreach immunisation service
  • An open immunisation clinic
  • One of the following Very Low Cost Access primary health services:

The new Synflorix® packs have been designed to reduce the risk of breakage, be more secure (tamper-evident) and environmentally friendly. Lettering on the Synflorix® syringe has changed from green to black so it is easier to read. The new packaging is expected to arrive at practices from December 2012. A GSK letter about Synflorix® packaging changes will be mailed to all practices and will also go out with ProPharma orders during the first month the new packs are distributed.

The new Infanrix®-IPV packs have been designed to be more secure (tamper-evident), smaller in size and environmentally friendly. The new packaging is expected to begin arriving at practices from early to mid-May 2013.