To the Editor: From 30 September 2009, the Australian Government began offering free pandemic (H1N1) 2009 influenza vaccine (Panvax, CSL Limited, Melbourne, VIC), using either 10-dose (5 mL) or 20-dose (10 mL) vials.1 Multidose vials are not used routinely in Australia, and are designed for high-volume vaccination clinics.2 Once pierced, a Panvax vial must be used within 24 hours or discarded.3 We investigated vaccine wastage in general practice during the first month of the vaccine’s availability.
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- 1 NSW Public Health Officer Training Program, NSW Health, Sydney, NSW.
- 2 Sydney South West Public Health Unit, Sydney South West Area Health Service, Sydney, NSW.
Correspondence: Caroline.Turnour@sswahs.nsw.gov.au
- 1. Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing. Pandemic (H1N1) 2009 vaccination program information for health professionals — 18 September 2009. http://www.public.health.wa.gov. au/cproot/2557/2/Health%20Professionals%20In formation%20Sheet%20-%20PDF.pdf (accessed Mar 2010).
- 2. Drain PK, Nelson CM, Lloyd JS. Single-dose versus multi-dose vaccine vials for immunization programmes in developing countries. Bull World Health Organ 2003; 81: 726-731.
- 3. Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation. Guideline for the administration of pandemic (H1N1) influenza vaccine from multi-dose vials (MDV) prepared by the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI). Canberra: Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing and Royal Australian College of General Practitioners, 2009. http://www.health.gov.au/internet/healthemergency/publishing.nsf/Content/2723D54E78BF5739CA2576400027E1E9/$File/6013%20H1N1%20MDV%20Protocol%20v3%20CMYK%20SCREEN.pdf (accessed Mar 2010).
- 4. CSL package insert. Influenza A (H1N1) 2009, monovalent vaccine. Melbourne: CSL Limited, 2009. http://www.avn.org.au/library/pdfs/090915_CSL_A-H1N1VaccinePackageInsert_BasedOn 2007Approvalfor%20Afluria_UCM182401.pdf (accessed Mar 2010).
- 5. Rudd K, Roxon N. Prime Minister and Minister for Health and Ageing media release. Australia joins international effort to assist swine flu vaccine rollout in developing countries. Canberra: Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing, 18 Sep 2009. http://www.health.gov.au/internet/healthemergency/publishing.nsf/Content/1F7255712C9D024 CCA257635003A683D/$File/090918%20Australia% 20shares%20vaccine.pdf (accessed Mar 2010).
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