About
Webinar objective:
To update primary care healthcare professionals on the burden of meningococcal disease with a focus on Meningococcal B vaccination, and participation in a GP practice clinical audit.
Learning outcomes:
- Recap the epidemiology and burden of disease in Australia of the different disease-causing meningococcal strains
- Summarise the NIP eligibility criteria for meningococcal disease, recommendations supporting vaccination outside of the NIP, and the current State and Territory funded programs
- Examine and analyse current funded programs on MenB, how these were successfully organised and coordinated to show an increase in MenB vaccination rates
- Review the learnings from MenB State and Territory funded programs and how other States could adopt a similar targeted approach
- Explore the use of key messages when discussing meningococcal disease and MenB vaccination with parents and patients (specifically adolescent and young adults) to help boost confidence in addressing questions, objections and concerns
- (Post-webinar activity) Participate in the MenB clinical audit identifying high risk patients that would benefit from MenB vaccination
A/Prof Roy Rasalam (Chair) 
Associate Professor Roy Rasalam has over 25 years experience working in clinical care and research. He trained at Monash University and has previously worked at Monash Health and Townsville University Hospital (QLD). He has an interest in public health medicine and the prevention of communicable and non-communicable diseases. He is affiliated with the Faculty of Medicine at University of Melbourne.
Current roles:
– clinical position at Alfred Health, Endocrine & Diabetes department
– private clinic with a focus on adult type 2 and type 1 diabetes
– principal investigator in phase 2-4 RCTs at Momentum Clinical Research (Sunshine Private Hospital)
He is co-author of the current Diabetes Australia/RACGP Type 2 Diabetes guidelines and has over 50 research outputs. He is Associate Editor of ‘Primary Care Diabetes Europe’ journal.
Prof Robert Booy 
Robert Booy is honorary Professor of Paediatrics and Child Health at the University of Sydney. From 2005 to 2019 he held Senior roles at NCIRS. He is a medical graduate of the University of Queensland (1984), trained in paediatrics at the Royal Children’s Hospital in Brisbane and has held a range of positions in the UK. Professor Booy’s research interests extend from understanding the genetic basis of susceptibility to, and severity of, infectious diseases, especially influenza, RSV and invasive disease caused by encapsulated organisms; the clinical, public health and social burden of these diseases; and means by which to prevent or control serious infections through vaccines, drugs and non-pharmaceutical measures. Over the past 20 years, Professor Booy has been increasingly recognised as an expert in the respiratory virus field, supervising many studies addressing the burden and prevention of influenza disease in children and adults in the UK, Australia and among Muslim pilgrims to Saudi Arabia. In addition he has led intervention studies with new vaccines, new vaccine delivery methods and alternate methods for preventing disease and transmission such as antivirals and personal protective equipment. Professor Robert Booy is a Director at the Immunisation Coalition.
Leanne Jones 
Dr Jones is a General Practitioner at the Windmill Hill Medical Centre, Launceston and a Director of the Immunisation Coalition (IC).
As a GP with more than 35 years’ experience, Dr Jones has an in-depth knowledge of the health issues facing Tasmanians. Dr Jones was a Board Member of the General Practice North where she served for two years as its Chair, and was a Board member of General Practice Tasmania for eight years. She has a special interest in immunisation and sits on various immunisation advisory and reference groups. She was also the Media Advisor and GP Advisor on Immunisation, and was the Tasmanian Medicare Local spokesperson on Immunisation.
Dr Jones graduated with a BMedSc and MBBS from the University of Tasmania.
She is involved with education of General Practitioners with Primary Health Tasmania and undergraduate medical students at the University of Tasmania.
Sonja Elia
After choosing to specialise in Immunisation in 2003, Ms Sonja Elia became an integral part of the Royal Children’s Hospital (RCH) Immunisation service and in 2017, became Victoria’s first Nurse Practitioner (NP) in the field of Immunisation. She has a particular interest in vaccine hesitancy, special risk groups, needle phobia, BCG vaccination and immunisation education. Sonja has received multiple awards including the Dame Elizabeth Murdoch Nursing Development scholarship and the RCH Chairman’s medal. She is a current member of the Immunisation Coalition, a teaching associate with the Monash University NP program and holds honorary positions with the University of Melbourne, Department of General Practice and the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute.
approach, Jenny is passionate about making immunisation accessible and convenient, helping to protect both mothers and newborns through timely vaccination.
Outside of work, Jenny is a proud mum of four and enjoys the lively chaos of family life, balancing her professional role with quality time at home.
She’s excited to join the panel and contribute her perspective from the community pharmacy front lines.
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
- Click on Create an Account or login with your existing account if you have used this website or app previously.
- Click on the arrow next to the event and click on register.
