Queensland EPA updates for RSV and COVID-19

The Queensland Paediatric Respiratory Syncytial Virus Prevention (QPRSVP) Program commenced from 15 April 2024 at all Queensland birthing hospitals. This program provides free Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) immunisations for all newborn babies born on, or from 1 February 2024 for the prevention of severe RSV disease.

To support implementation of the QPRSVP, the following amendments to Extended Practice Authorities (EPAs) have come into effect on 1 May 2024:

• Midwives, Registered Nurses, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Practitioners and Indigenous Health Workers practicing within the requirements of their respective EPA, will be authorised to independently administer nirsevimab.
• The current Australian Immunisation Handbook (AIH) is the health management protocol (HMP) for dealings with medicines for immunisations listed in the respective EPA. Where a medicine for immunisation is not included in the AIH, the current recommendation issued by ATAGI may be used as the HMP.

It is also important to note that from 1 May 2024:

• Midwives, Registered Nurses, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Practitioners, Indigenous Health Workers and Pharmacists practicing within the requirements of their respective EPA, will be authorised to independently administer RSV vaccine.

It is highly encouraged all involved in the QPRSVP Program and particularly clinical staff working under an EPA to familiarise themselves with the relevant changes.

The EPAs have been published on this Queensland Health landing page.

In addition to the amendments pertaining to the RSV immunisation program, from 1 May 2024, the requirement for completion of the expired Australian Government’s mandatory COVID-19 vaccination training program to administer COVID-19 vaccines will be removed from all EPAs. There will be no separate training required for the COVID-19 vaccine other than standard immunisation training that meets the National Immunisation Education Framework for Health Professionals, as is required for all vaccines.