Immunisation
The Boorloo PHU immunisation team provides a range of services to improve immunisation coverage across the Perth metropolitan area, including specific programs for Aboriginal children and families in areas of low vaccination coverage.
Immunisation providers and the public can contact Boorloo PHU for more information or visit the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) section below.
Catch-up plans
General Practices (GPs) can request assistance with catch-up immunisation plans by completing the Immunisation Catch Up Plan Request Form (external site), for the following groups:
- people overdue for vaccination up to 20 years of age
- people of any age before or after splenectomy
Please note: catch-up plans can only be provided to GPs. Members of the public should visit their local GP, community health clinic or Aboriginal community health centre.
For more information visit Healthy WA (external site) or the Australian Immunisation Handbook (external site) websites.
Education
Immunisation providers can request a free education session from a specialist immunisation nurse in relation to immunisation catch-ups, cold chain management or other queries.
Aboriginal Health Liaison Officers (AHLO) can provide free education and advice on culturally safe immunisation practices. Please contact Boorloo PHU for more information.
Support for Aboriginal families
Boorloo PHU delivers the Moorditj Start program which supports culturally safe immunisation for Aboriginal children.
Experienced AHLOs can provide telephone support for families, including booking appointments and appointment reminders. A home visiting service is available for Aboriginal children who are overdue for immunisation and are unable to access a vaccination clinic.
Immunisation providers can contact the Boorloo PHU team to request support for Aboriginal families.
Immunisation cold chain management
A cold chain breach occurs when vaccine storage temperatures deviate outside the recommended range of +2°C to +8°C. The optimal storage temperature for vaccines is +5°C.
The following breaches must be reported to Boorloo PHU:
- all temperature deviations above +8°C, except for temperatures between +8°C and +12°C that last 15 minutes or less
- all temperature deviations below +2°C, regardless of duration
Visit the WA Health Cold Chain Management (external site) website for information in relation to reporting and responding to a cold chain breach including access to the vaccine wastage reporting form.
To report other wastage (such as expired vaccines) use the Vaccine Incident Reporting Form (external site).
Immunisation Resources for Frequently Asked Questions
Vaccine administration errors and adverse events
Ensure the patient is managed clinically.
Report the event to the WA Vaccine Safety Surveillance System (external site)
Schedule and catch-up information
WA Immunisation Schedule (PDF)
Australian Immunisation Handbook Catch-Up Chapter (external site)
WA Meningococcal Vaccines Tables (PDF)
Adult measles vaccination program (external site)
ATAGI advice on vaccines and funding for people with risk conditions (PDF) (includes solid organ and stem cell transplant)
Recommendations for people with functional or anatomical asplenia (external site)
Immunisation cold chain management
Correct stocking of a vaccine fridge
Ensure vaccines are evenly spaced throughout the cabinet, ideally in plastic baskets with holes to allow for optimal air circulation. Place water bottles in empty spaces at the bottom of the fridge.
Over-stocking and incorrect stocking is a common cause of unstable temperatures and cold chain breaches.
Maintenance of a vaccine fridge
The National Vaccine Storage Guidelines, Strive for 5 - 3rd edition, recommends 12 monthly services, or in the event of a cold chain breach for an unknown reason.
Required temperature monitoring procedures
Vaccines must remain under temperature monitoring at all times to ensure their viability for use.
Twice daily minimum / maximum manual refrigerator temperatures and at minimum weekly data logger downloads and reviews are required. It is important to review and assess your temperature readings. Temperatures should be stable and ideally reading between 5-5.5 degrees˚C. Instability, fluctuations or any temperatures outside 2-8 degrees˚C (excluding fluctuations up to +12˚C for 15 minutes or less) need further investigation.
Documentation required to report a cold chain breach for government-funded vaccines
Use a current CCB report form: CCB and Vaccine Wastage Form (PDF).
Reporting vaccine wastage of government-funded vaccines
This includes all wastage. If a vaccine is discarded it needs to be reported: CCB and Vaccine Wastage Form (PDF).
Reporting government-funded vaccine expiry
Vaccine expiry is reported via an electronic system: Vaccine Expiry Reporting Form (external site)
When and how to move vaccines if required
Boorloo PHU can provide advice on whether it is appropriate to move vaccines. If it is determined that vaccines need to be moved during a cold chain event or outreach, the steps in National Vaccine Storage Guidelines ‘Strive for 5’, 3rd edition (PDF) must be followed.
See section 9 in the guidelines on how to move vaccines. Incorrect procedures for moving vaccines can lead to freeze events and unnecessary wastage of vaccines due to inconsistent temperature monitoring or temperature conditions.
How to receive vaccines safely
When accepting vaccines ensure the TagAlert is checked and the arrow is pointing towards the green tick before accepting vaccines from OneLink.
Promptly unpack vaccines to a vaccine fridge and document the time and fridge temperature in your min/max logbook when vaccines are placed in the fridge. Ensure several staff are familiar with the process in the event they need to accept the vaccines.
Common vaccine issues
Please check the Australian Immunisation Handbook (external site) website for the most current information for COVID-19 vaccines.
Hepatitis B non-responders (external site)
Recommendations for tetanus-prone wounds (external site)
New shingles vaccines (external site)
Varicella vaccination for Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (external site)