About

Webinar objectives:

• Update HCPs on the progress of a coordinated influenza/COVID-19/RSV vaccination approach through primary care, pharmacy and workplace mobile vaccination services.
• To increase the number of Australians vaccinated against influenza/COVID-19 and RSV (subject to vaccine availability) and to minimise the impact of these infections in the community and on the Australian Healthcare system.

Learning outcomes:

1. Provide a monthly update (April, May, June) on the number of laboratory-confirmed Influenza, COVID-19 and RSV cases (National, by State, outbreak areas and hospital settings)
2. Review the number of vaccinations administered across age groups compared to 2023 and the pre-COVID-19 pandemic period, and how these compare with the current number of laboratory confirmed cases.
3. Identify call-to-action initiatives by HCPs and Government that have been successful and should be considered this year to help increase the vaccination rate.
4. Review this data specific to high-risk groups and identify efficient and practical means of targeting these patients.
5. Review current government and non-government vaccination initiatives and discuss how working together can increase the vaccination rate, particularly in the high-risk group population.
6. Identify main challenges/barriers evident today that is limiting vaccination, and if addressed could increase vaccination rates next year and beyond.

Dr Rodney Pearce AM (Chair)

Dr Rodney Pearce AM is a country and city GP and Medical Officer of Health for the Eastern Health Authority (HA), Adelaide. Dr Pearce became a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) on Australia Day 2012. He received the award for his long-standing service to medicine as a General Practitioner, through contributions to national medical organisations and to education. He is the current Chair of the Immunisation Coalition.

Prof Ian Barr 

Professor Ian Barr is currently the Deputy Director of the WHO Collaborating Centre for Reference and Research on Influenza (one of 5 globally) based at the Doherty Institute in Melbourne, Australia which has operated since 1992.  The Centre plays an active role in the regional surveillance of human influenza. Ian has over 35 years’ experience in Research and Development both with academic and commercial groups including over 22 years at the Centre and has authored or co-authored nearly 300 publications including over 250 peer reviewed journal articles, reviews and editorials on various aspects of influenza. He holds an Honorary Professorial position in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology at the University of Melbourne.

Chris Campbell 

Chris is the General Manager for Policy and Program Delivery at the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia, Adjunct Senior Lecturer at University of Queensland School of Pharmacy and Research Fellow at the Queensland University of Technology.

Catherine Keil

MN(NP) RN BSc(Hons) Dip TM(RCPSG) CTH(ISTM) FACTM Catherine Keil is an Australian/British Nurse Practitioner specialising in travel health and immunisations. She completed a BSc Honours degree in Geography in 1995 from the University of Newcastle-Upon-Tyne, UK, with an interest in Medical Geography. She went on to complete a Nursing Diploma in 1998 from Kingston University/St George’s Medical School, London, UK, which involved an exchange program to Uganda.

After travelling and working in Africa, South East Asia and Central America, she became a practice nurse based in London. She specialised in travel health, which led her to work for Emirates Airline in Dubai for ten years, where she was instrumental in setting up a travel health clinic for the crew and families.

In 2006, she completed the Diploma in Travel Medicine from the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons, Glasgow, UK, and in 2014 completed the ISTM Certificate in Travel Health.

After moving to Australia, she completed a Masters in Nursing (Nurse Practitioner) from Flinders University, Adelaide, in 2017 and now works as an Endorsed Nurse Practitioner in Travel Health and Immunisations.

In 2018, she became an elected member of the International Society of Travel Medicine (ISTM) Nursing Professional Group Steering Council

In 2019, she became a Fellow of the Faculty of Travel Medicine (FFTM), Australasian College of Tropical Medicine.

Dr Kirsten Baluch

Dr Kirsten Baulch is a General Practitioner with over 20 years experience coordinating mobile workplace vaccination clinics across Australia. Kirsten provides clinical governance and oversight to over 200 immunisation nurses located in all Australian states and territories who visit businesses and government to administer nearly 200 000 influenza vaccinations annually.

To register for this activity, simply:

• Download the CPD HCP app on your phone or tablet or use the website at https://www.cpdhcp.com.au
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