News
National HPV Vaccination Program Register Online Access for GPs	The National HPV Vaccination Program Register website contains information for health professionals about the National HPV Vaccination Program Register, which has been established to support the HPV Vaccination Program. On line access to the HPV Register has recently been given to those general practitioners who requested it upon registration. Click on the link to the left to access the website and for more imformation regarding online access.
National Bowel Cancer Screening Important Information for GP's and Referral Options for Colonoscopy	The National Bowel Cancer Screening Program will resume from 2 November 2009. Around 600,000 test kits will be sent out nationally and the majority of WA participants affected by the temporary suspension of the Program will receive their replacement kit by March 2010. Click on the link to the left  to access the website and for important information and referral options.
Lung Health Promontion Centre Course Informamtion	The Lung Health Promotion Centre at the Alfred offers education to health proffessionals in lung disease management. The Centre is committed to providing accessible, evidence-based, holistic education and support for health professionals.  Click on the links to the left to access course dates and general information.
Quick Reference Guides Logging onto HPOS with PKI individual Certificates Accessing ACIR via HPOS	Changes to Medicare Australia's Online Services From April 2009, health professionals can access Medicare Australia's online services through a single entry point. The new Health Proffessional Online Services (HPOS) website will make it easier for health proffessionals to work with Medicare. Visit www.medicareaustralia.gov.au/providers and click on the HPOS link  Click on the link to the right to take you to the HPOS Login page          The Australian Childhood Immunisation Register (ACIR) secure site can be accessed from the HPOS logon page using your existing ACIR logon (authentication file name and password). A quick reference guide is located to the right. If you would like further information call 1800 700 199 and select option 5.
WA Vaccination Schedule 1 May 2009	The Transition from the Split Immunisation Schedule to a Single Schedule for all Children in WA will begin effective 1 February 2009. The Communicable Disease Control Directorate advise that the transition from the spilt immunisation schedule to single schedule for all children in WA will begin effective 1 February 2009. The new schedule is available by clicking on the WA Vacination Schedule to the left. • The major difference between the current split schedule and the single schedule is the use of Infanrix Hexa in lieu of the combination of PedVax-HiB and Infanrix-Penta among Indigenous children.  • As of 1 February 2009 Department of Health no longer intends to purchase PedVax-HiB and Infanrix-Penta vaccine formulations for use in the WA childhood immunisation program.  • Ideally, children who have started the infant vaccination series using the combination of PedVax-HiB and Infanrix-Penta should complete the series using these products. It is therefore acceptable to continue using the 1 April 2008 WA split immunisation schedule for Indigenous children until you no longer have enough remaining stock of Infanrix-Penta and PedVax-Hib to start and complete the series in an individual child.  • In the new schedule, hepatitis A vaccine (Vaqta) and 23vPPV vaccine (Pneumovax23) are still being recommended for Indigenous children, as add-ons to the combined immunisation schedule for all children. The Department of Health also wish to advise that it is in the process of finalizing multiple vaccine tender contracts. The specific vaccine brands supplied by Department of Health are therefore subject to future change, pending the outcome of the vaccine tender process. Notification of any future changes in the vaccine brands that will be released as soon as this information is available. This information was taken from Department of Health website Letter 30 January 2009 - Paul Effler, MD, MPH, FAFPHM
ACIR National Due and Overdue Rules	Changes to the Maternity Immunisation Allowance and the Child Care Payment System. The National Due and Overdue Rules, used by the Australian Childhood Immunisation Register (ACIR) to determine whether a child is considered up to date with immunisation, will change from 1 January 2009. This change will affect the four year vaccinations for children born from 1 January 2005. The change applies to:                                  • the new split Maternal Immunisation Allowance, and                                  • the child care payment Currently, the rules for this age schedule state that a child is due for vaccinations at four years and are considered overdue at five years. From 1 January 2009, a child will be regarded as being due at four years and overdue at four years and one month. Parents will have an extra 63 days to complete the immunisation schedule and guarantee their child care payments.
Link to Department of Child Protection Services Mandatory Reporting of Child Sexual Abuse	Mandatory Reporting of Child Sexual Abuse New laws require health professionals to report when they have a reasonable belief that sexual abuse of a child has occurred or is occurring. The legislation has been passed by Parliament and will be enacted on 1 January 2009. All doctors, nurses and midwives must comply with the Department for Child Protection guidelines. However, anyone who is concerned that a child is suffering any form of abuse or neglect, should report this to the Department for Child Protection, through a local District Office.