Main Public Health Issues Related to Immunisation in Australia

Running head: MODULE 1
Question 2
The main public health issues related to immunisation in Australia is lack of proper
follow-up for the booster dosage of Haemophilus influenza type b (Hib) vaccination. Initially
Hib is given in the form of boaster dose in combination with Hib-MenC (combined Hib and
meningococcal C vaccine) to the children who are 12 months of age. Inability of the children
to come over for the booster dosage leads to incomplete immunisation and thus promoting
rapid spread of the disease (Australian Government Department of Health, 2019).. Thus in
order to ensure comprehensive immunization, the Series of National Guidelines (SoNGs) in
consultation with the Communicable Diseases Network Australia (CDNA) and Australian
Health Protection Principal Committee (AHPPC) have developed monovalent Hib dose for
the children who are 18 years old. This vaccination does not require any booster dosages and
thus ensuring comprehensive immunization for the children. The immunization is also
effective for the people who are suffering from asplenia and people who have received a
haematopoietic stem cell transplant. SoNGs also promote guidelines for the surveillance in
order to extract demographic data for effective distribution of the immunization kits mainly
in the regions that are infiltrated with refugees and aboriginals. The SoNGs have a separate
guideline for the communication strategies for early reporting of the disease and generation
of the immunization awareness among the mass (CDNA, 2017).
The issue is extremely significant in the practice of immunization as it helps in
understanding the drawbacks of the booster dosage in the areas of the ethnic minorities.
Moreover, it also helps to promote the importance of communication in arising immunization
awareness among the mass and early reporting of the cases for promoting effective disease
prevention.

1
MODULE 1
Answer 9
Overview of the IPN
According to Health Drugs and Poisons Regulation 1996, an immunisation program
nurse is authorised to obtain vaccine or other restricted drug and at the same time can
administer a vaccine or other restricted drug under the immunisation program nurse DTP
(Drug Therapy Program). This kind of immunisation program is mostly structured for
promoting immunization by local or community based healthcare department or
immunisation program conducted in the hospital or health service unit under the active
supervision of the doctors and immunisation program nurse. Such immunisation programs are
mainly certified programs.
Authorisation for Practice
The immunisation program nurses are mainly registered nurses who have the
authority to practice in an immunisation program under the legislation published in the
Nursing Act 1992. An immunisation program nurse has required qualification to conduct the
immunisation program and the said qualification is approved by the chief executive
(Queensland Government Department of Health, 2017).
Vaccines and Restricted drugs that IPN are authorised to administered
As per the Drug Therapy Protocol – Immunisation Program Nurse (IPN) published by
Queensland Government Department of Health (2016) the vaccine and restricted drug which
the IPN is eligible for administering include
Diptheria
Tetanus
Pertusis