National Immunisation Office Bulletin
The National Immunisation Office has published Immunisation Bulletin 60. This bulletin provides an update regarding:
- Spikevax bivalent Original/Omicron BA.4-5, 50 micrograms (0.5ml) for those aged 30 years and older (this vaccine will only be operationalised in CVC’s);
- The National Immunisation Advisory Committee’s (NIAC) new recommendations for the timing of COVID-19 booster vaccines in pregnancy;
- Update to the NIAC Immunisation Guidelines Anaphylaxis Chapter (February 2023); and
- Differences in advice between NIAC Immunisation Guidelines and the Summary of Product Characteristics (SmPC) of vaccines.
NIAC Immunisation Guidelines
The Anaphylaxis Chapter has been updated by NIAC. The updated advice relates to the recommended needle length for IM injections according to weight.
The recommended needle length for IM injections in the anterolateral thigh is 25mm (38-40mm for males weighing >120kg and females weighing >90kgs and 16mm in infants weighing 2.5-3.0kg). The old advice recommended needle length for IM injections in the anterolateral thigh of 38-40mm for all those weighing more than 100kg.
New NIO contact details
The NIO has added a new email address to contact, should vaccines be exposed to temperatures outside of parameters. This is pharmacynio@hse.ie.
Alternatively, you can call a NIO pharmacist:
- Leah Gaughan (mobile) 0871881667;
- Achal Gupta (mobile) 0874064810; or
- Cliona Kersey (mobile)
