Information updates

On 17 March 2022, the National Blood Authority (NBA) engaged HealthConsult to develop a Report about uptake of subcutaneous immunoglobulin (SCIg).  The final report  "Evaluate and Develop Options to Improve Access to Subcutaneous Immunoglobulin (SCIg)" is now available on the NBA website https://blood.gov.au/Ig-program and the direct link to the report is Final Report (nba.gov.au).

Options recommended for implementation include :

• Option 1: Establish position statement(s) on when SCIg should be considered for initiation of Ig treatment.
• Option 3: Develop a national statement on the benefits of SCIg to improve education and awareness

Note - The ASCIA website includes a SCIg Position Statement and other information about the benefits of SCIg.

Background information

Eligibility for patient access to publicly funded Immunoglobulin (Ig) is administered by the NBA through the National Immunoglobulin Governance Program (‘the Program’). The supply of Ig products such as Intravenous Ig (IVIg) and SCIg is managed by the NBA and funded under the National Blood Agreement, at no cost to patients. Widespread evidence exists of SCIg supporting patient-centred quality of life benefits as well as cost savings for health systems compared to IVIg.

A survey of patients and carers conducted for this project showed that 95.2% of patients who have tried SCIg and IVIg believe that SCIg is the better treatment option. However, SCIg usage in Australia (as a proportion of eligible Ig patients) is around 16%, compared to around 25% in countries such as the United Kingdom, Canada, France, and Italy.Therefore, opportunities exist to optimise the uptake of SCIg in Australia and increase access for patients, health services and the health system to SCIg (where appropriate).

The scope of HealthConsult’s engagement included:

• Identifying barriers to the optimal uptake of SCIg because of the current service model.
• Developing options to optimise access to SCIg. The identified options aim to develop a service model that is adaptable to changing conditions in a clinical setting and promotes sustainability in the National SCIg Program to support eligible patients.

Consultation has opened for the March 2024 Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee (PBAC) agenda. This includes submissions for new or updated Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) listings of products that are relevant to allergy and immunology, as listed below. Feedback is due by 31 January 2024.

The PBAC welcomes input from patients, carers, health professionals, consumer groups or organisations and members of the public on medicines submitted for PBAC consideration. The PBAC considers these public consultation inputs when considering the clinical and economic evidence presented by the applicant.

How to provide input

• Input can be submitted via the online survey.  A copy of the questions asked in the survey and additional guidance can be downloaded below under ‘Related’ to assist your preparation.
• There is the option to upload a file with your submission. The preferred file types are PDF or Microsoft Word, however other file types will be accepted, provided they are no larger than 25mb. If your file is too large, or you wish to upload more than one file, please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
• You can save and come back at any time to your response before the consultation close date.
• Once you have submitted, a copy of your submission will be emailed to the contact email address provided.

Healthcare workers are invited to participate in a short survey (~5 minutes) on reporting cases of edible insect food allergy after consumption of insect-based food products such as crickets, mealworms. green ants and witchetty grubs (native to Australia). This survey is being conducted by researchers from James Cook University and the University of Sydney who are affiliated with ASCIA, Centre for Food and Allergy Research (CFAR), and the National Allergy Centre of Excellence (NACE). 

The survey link is  https://jcu.syd1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_20rS7COSt5qfs8K  and the closing date is 9 February 2024.

The purpose of this survey is to:

• Identify case reports of food allergy to edible insect-based food products and supplements that are gaining popularity as a novel and sustainable source of protein, and are currently being sold as an alternative source of proteins for human consumption in mainstream grocery stores.
• Determine the prevalence of edible insect consumption in the population and the incidence of allergic hypersensitivity upon the ingestion of or exposure to edible insect food products.

Why is collecting this information important?

• Edible insect-based food products and protein supplements are increasingly introduced as an alternative sustainable novel food source to address the global need to feed the growing population.
• However, food safety is of major concern due to the high similarity of conserved proteins with shellfish and house dust mites. Case reports of clinical cross-reactivity have been documented in America, Asia and Europe which identifies that edible insects can be harmful to those suffering from shellfish allergy.
• Currently, there is little research and evidence on the prevalence of edible insect food allergy in Australia. The prevalence and incidence of edible insect food allergy in Australia will provide evidence of the significance of this type of food allergy among the Australian population and initiate research to improve diagnostic accuracy and develop management protocols for the affected Australian population.

This survey will take approximately 5 minutes to complete with the option to save and return to it within 14 days. Each question in the survey requires a response. Please use one questionnaire for each patient/client.

Participation in the survey is voluntary and your responses will be securely stored by Qualtrics and only accessed by approved researchers from James Cook University, University of Sydney and employees of ASCIA. Any identifiable information received will not be stored with your responses. If you have any questions about the survey, please contact Shay Karnaneedi (Food Allergy Researcher at James Cook University) at: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

There is currently a call for submissions to a Senate Inquiry for the potential impacts of Red Imported Fire Ants (RIFA) on the health of Australians, as well as costs. - see https://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/Senate/Rural_and_Regional_Affairs_and_Transport/FireAnts). 

The call for submissions was due to close on 1 December 2023, but this has now been extended to 29 January 2024.

RIFA have the potential to have a devastating environmental and health impact if they are allowed to spread across Australia. RIFA are very aggressive, and commonly cause sensitisation in those who are stung.  Their stings can cause large local allergic reactions and anaphylaxis. They have largely been contained to outbreaks in Queensland, but they were reported to have recently crossed into New South Wales.

In reponse to the Inquiry, the National Allergy Centre of Excellence NACE has lodged a detailed submission and an ASCIA submission has also been lodged on 1 December 2023, which can be viewed at https://www.allergy.org.au/ascia-submissions. 

The National Allergy Council has updated the Best Practice Guidelines for anaphylaxis prevention and management in schools and children’s education/care services, which are now available on the re-designed Allergy Aware website – www.allergyaware.org.au

The key changes to the Best Practice Guidelines include:

• An allergy aware approach as a separate, first recommendation.
• Clearer recommendations related to allergy documentation by schools and camps. A camp section has also been added to the Allergy Aware website.
• Clearer information about reporting allergic reactions in schools.
• Updated links to specific sections in the implementation guide and supporting materials included at the end of the document.
• QR codes added to the resource table in the Appendix.
• A cleaner design with some fun elements. This same approach has been taken with the Allergy Aware website.

In addition to updating the Best Practice Guidelines, two new parent guides have been created:

• What does it mean to be an allergy aware school or children’s education/care service? 
• How can families support allergy aware schools or children’s education/care services? 

To order hard copies of the Best Practice Guidelines complete the form available at https://www.allergyaware.org.au/best-practice-guidelines-order-form before 31 January 2024. Printed copies will be mailed in late February/early March 2024.

ASCIA Dietary Avoidance for Food Allergy Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) has been updated in December 2023 to include a QR code which links to short, easy to understand videos about how to read and understand food labels for food allergy. These vidoes are on the National Allergy Council Food Allergy Education website. 

ASCIA Dietary Avoidance for Food Allergy FAQ should be used with each of the ASCIA Dietary Guides listed below, which have also been updated in 2023 to include:

• Links to patient/carer support organisations at the top of each guide.
• ReadSpeaker, which enables translations by highlighting the text, clicking on 'translate’ and selecting the language. ReadSpeaker also provides text to speech for people who are vision impaired or have limited reading ability.

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Monovalent COVID-19 Omicron XBB.1.5 vaccines are now available in Australia, following the Therapeutic Goods Administration of Australia (TGA) approval of the following XBB 1.5 vaccines for use as primary and additional doses:

• Pfizer monovalent Omicron XBB.1.5 vaccine 5 - <12 years formulation (light blue cap)
• Pfizer monovalent Omicron XBB.1.5 vaccine ≥12 years formulation (dark grey cap)
• Moderna monovalent Omicron XBB.1.5 vaccine, registered for use in people aged 12 years and older.

The Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) advises the following:

• All currently available COVID-19 vaccines are anticipated to provide benefit to eligible people, however the monovalent Omicron XBB.1.5 vaccines are preferred over other vaccines for use in children aged 5 years or older and adults who are currently recommended primary or additional doses of COVID-19 vaccine according to the Australian Immunisation Handbook
• For those who have had the recommended 2023 dose/s of COVID-19 vaccine, ATAGI is not recommending further doses or re-vaccination with an XBB.1.5-containing vaccine at this time
• ATAGI notes the recent increase in COVID-19 cases across Australia since November 2023. ATAGI encourages all people who have not yet had their recommended 2023 dose/s to receive them as soon as possible (see table below).

There are no monovalent XBB.1.5-containing vaccines registered for use in children aged 6 months to 4 years. Currently, Pfizer original (maroon cap) is the only formulation available for use in this age group. Providers can refer to the Australian Immunisation Handbook to check which vaccines are recommended by age group.

ATAGI updated the recommendations for doses of COVID-19 in February and September 2023. These recommendations have not changed at this time. As published in the September statement, the current recommendations for further doses are summarised below:

Table: Current recommendations for further COVID-19 vaccine doses (unchanged from September 2023)