Changes to eligibility for the SA Funded Measles Vaccination Program

From Wednesday 3 September the SA Funded Measles Vaccination Program is being expanded to include:

• all adults born during or after 1966 who do not have evidence of receiving two measles vaccines, and
• children 6 months to less than 12 months of age travelling overseas.

The requirement for overseas travel for adults has been removed.

All immunisation providers registered with the SA Health Vaccine Distribution Centre will be able to order and administer measles vaccines as part of this program.

Ordering measles vaccines from the VDC:

• State funded category – children 6 months to less than 12 months of age who are travelling overseas and all adults born during or after 1966 who do not have evidence of two measles vaccines.
• NIP category– for children aged 12 months (MMR) and18 months (MMRV) as per the NIP schedule, people less than 20 years requiring catch-up doses, refugees and humanitarian entrants of any age

Key points

• As the measles vaccine is a live vaccine it is contraindicated for certain people, including those who are pregnant and immunocompromised. See the Measles chapter in the Australian Immunisation Handbook for more information.
• Babies 6-11 months of age vaccinated prior to travelling overseas will still need to receive the usual NIP doses at 12 and 18 months of age.
• A dose given between 11-12 months of age will be accepted by AIR as the 12-month dose and will not need to be repeated.
• There is no service or administration fee payment provided for this program, and this program is not eligible for NIPVIP claiming.

Pharmacies may choose to charge the consumer an administration fee, to a maximum of $20.05.

More information is available on the SA Health South Australia Funded Measles Vaccination Program webpage, including a Fact Sheet for health professionals.