The Australian Immunisation Handbook 10th Edition 2013

PART 1 INTRODUCTION TO THE AUSTRALIAN
IMMUNISATION HANDBOOK
1.1 BACKGROUND
For more than 200 years, since Edward Jenner first demonstrated that
vaccination offered protection against smallpox, the use of vaccines has
continued to reduce the burden of many infectious diseases. Vaccination has
been demonstrated to be one of the most effective and cost-effective public
health interventions. Worldwide, it has been estimated that immunisation
programs prevent approximately 2.5 million deaths each year. 1 The global
eradication of smallpox in 1997, near elimination of poliomyelitis and global
reduction in other vaccine-preventable diseases, are model examples of disease
control through immunisation.
Vaccination not only protects individuals, but also protects others in the
community by increasing the overall level of immunity in the population
and thus minimising the spread of infection. This concept is known as ‘herd
immunity’. It is vital that healthcare professionals take every available
opportunity to vaccinate children and adults. Australia has one of the most
comprehensive publicly funded immunisation programs in the world. As a result
of successful vaccination programs in Australia, many diseases, for example,
tetanus, diphtheria, Haemophilus influenzae type b and poliomyelitis, do not occur
now or are extremely rare in Australia. 2
The purpose of The Australian Immunisation Handbook is to provide clinical
guidelines for health professionals on the safest and most effective use of vaccines
in their practice. These recommendations are developed by the Australian
Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) and were considered
for approval by the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC)
(under section 14A of the NHMRC Act 1992).
The Handbook provides guidance based on the best scientific evidence available
at the time of publication from published and unpublished literature. Further
details regarding the Handbook revision procedures are described below in 1.2
Development of the 10th edition of the Handbook. The reference lists for all chapters
are included in the electronic version of the Handbook, which is available via the
Immunise Australia website (www.immunise.health.gov.au).
The information contained within this Handbook was correct as at October 2012.
However, the content of the Handbook is reviewed regularly. The 10th edition
of The Australian Immunisation Handbook will remain current unless amended
electronically via the Immunise Australia website or until the 11th edition of the
Handbook is published.
PART 1 INTRODUCTION TO THE AUSTRALIAN IMMUNISATION HANDBOOK 1
1.1 BACKGROUND