The Australian Immunisation Handbook 10th Edition 2013

1.3 HOW TO USE THE 10TH EDITION HANDBOOK
The following information provides an overview of how information is presented
in this 10th edition of The Australian Immunisation Handbook, to guide the reader
in how to best use this resource.
The Handbook is divided into five major parts. Part 1 contains information on
the development process for the Handbook, a summary of changes from the 9th
edition Handbook, and an overview of the general principles of immunisation,
including both active and passive immunisation, vaccine efficacy and vaccine
safety. Part 2 of the Handbook is divided into three chapters, which describe
the processes and procedures involved around a vaccination encounter: prevaccination
requirements; a detailed discussion of the administration of vaccines;
and information on post-vaccination considerations. In Part 3 of the Handbook,
there are three chapters, each dedicated to vaccinations for different special risk
groups, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, international
travellers, and other special risk categories (e.g. immunocompromised persons,
pregnant women and others).
Part 4 of the Handbook contains 24 chapters, each dealing with an individual
disease for which a vaccine, or vaccines, are currently available in Australia.
These chapters all follow the same format and are divided into various sections
describing:
• the biology, clinical features and epidemiology of the disease
• information on vaccines, with those available, or soon to be available, in
Australia highlighted in a shaded box (for more information see also the
Therapeutic Goods Administration, www.tga.gov.au, for the latest vaccine
product information document provided by the manufacturer and
1.5.3 Active immunisation)
• recommendations for vaccine use
• use in pregnancy and breastfeeding
• contraindications, precautions and advice on adverse events following
immunisation specific to the vaccine(s) (for more information see
1.5.5 Vaccine safety and adverse events following immunisation)
• information on the public health management of each disease; this is
only given in detail where there are specific additional recommendations
for vaccine use in the context of disease control and/or post-exposure
prophylaxis
• variations from product information.
PART 1 INTRODUCTION TO THE AUSTRALIAN IMMUNISATION HANDBOOK 5
1.3 HOW TO USE THE
10TH EDITION HANDBOOK