Information updates

As stated in the ASCIA COVID-19 Vaccination FAQ 20, COVID-19 vaccines are recorded in an individual’s Immunisation History Statement in Australia, and on the National COVID-19 Immunisation Register (CIR) in New Zealand.

Further information about digital certificates to show proof of COVID-19 vaccination in Australia

In Australia you can obtain proof of your vaccinations recorded on the Australian Immunisation Register from different government sources, including My Health Record.

The COVID-19 digital certificate shows your COVID-19 vaccinations, and is only available after you have had all required doses of a vaccine approved for use in Australia. Your vaccination provider will add all your doses to the Australian Immunisation Register before you can get your certificate.

How you get proof depends on your situation. This includes if you need to create a myGov account, link services or enrol in Medicare. Find the best way to get proof of your COVID-19 vaccinations for your situation.

To obtain COVID-19 vaccination proof through My Health Record you need to link it to your myGov account. The National Allergy Strategy has developed a fact sheet to explain how to get set up with My Health Record. For more information on where to find proof of vaccination in your record visit the Australian Digital Health Agency website.

Useful websites

Australia: https://www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/individuals/services/medicare/australian-immunisation-register/how-get-immunisation-history-statement

New Zealand: https://covid19.govt.nz/covid-19-vaccines/how-to-get-a-covid-19-vaccination/book-your-covid-19-vaccination/getting-proof-of-your-vaccination/

ASCIA has recently updated its online eczema (atopic dermatitis) resources to assist health professionals and patients/carers to treat and manage eczema. These resources now include information about treatment of severe eczema using immune modulating treatments.

The following updated resources are now on the ASCIA website:

• ASCIA Eczema (Atopic Dermatitis) FAQ* for patients, consumers and carers https://www.allergy.org.au/patients/skin-allergy 
• ASCIA Action Plan for Eczema and ASCIA Stepwise Management Plan for Eczema https://www.allergy.org.au/hp/ascia-plans-action-and-treatment#r4a

ASCIA online eczema resources have been developed to assist with:

• Treatment of severe eczema (including the use of immune modulating treatments) and eczema flares.
• Ongoing management of eczema, including maintaining skin to prevent or minimise eczema flares.
• Providing accessible, consistent and evidence-based information from a reliable source.

Each month there are around 1,500 downloads of ASCIA online eczema resources. ASCIA will continue to review and update these resources as new information is available.

*ReadSpeaker is available on the ASCIA webpages for patients, consumers and carers, to improve access for people with:

• Vision impairment, limited reading ability or learning disabilities, by allowing text to speech (TTS).
• Non-English speaking backgrounds - information can be translated into 20 different languages by highlighting the text and selecting 'translate’.

Over the past year ASCIA has updated and developed more than 24 online resources and 10 e-training courses to assist in the emergency treatment and management of anaphylaxis (severe allergic reactions).

Each year ASCIA online anaphylaxis resources are viewed more than 500,000 times and there are more than 100,000 registrations for the ASCIA anaphylaxis e-training courses.

The latest resources to be updated are ASCIA anaphylaxis checklists and e-training courses for prescribers (doctors and nurse practitioners), pharmacists and patients/carers, which now include information about two brands of adrenaline injectors, EpiPen^® and Anapen^®:

• EpiPen^® (300 mcg) and EpiPen^® Jr (150 mcg) are available in Australia on the PBS, and in New Zealand.
• Anapen^® 500, Anapen^® 300 and Anapen^® 150 are available in Australia on the PBS.

Adrenaline injectors are prescribed as follows:

• 150 mcg devices for children weighing 7.5 to 20kg.
• 300 mcg devices for children weighing over 20kg and adults, including pregnant women.
• 500 mcg or 300 mcg devices for children weighing over 50kg and adults, including pregnant women.

ASCIA has developed checklists to assist health professionals and patients/carers in the following ways:

• Anaphylaxis Checklist for Adrenaline Prescribers - Developed to assist doctors and nurse practitioners who prescribe adrenaline injectors for patients who are at risk of anaphylaxis.
• Anaphylaxis Checklist for Pharmacists - Developed to assist pharmacists who dispense adrenaline injectors to patients who are at risk of anaphylaxis.
• Anaphylaxis Checklist for Patients* - Developed to assist patients who are at risk of anaphylaxis, and their carers.
• Anaphylaxis Checklist for Transitioning from Paediatric to Adult Care* - Developed to assist young adults understand their allergies and learn to look after their health independently to make the transition from paediatric to adult medical care easier.
• Anaphylaxis Checklist for Travelling with Allergy, Asthma or Anaphylaxis - Developed to assist people at risk of anaphylaxis, who need to carry adrenaline when travelling.

Updated ASCIA anaphylaxis resources and e-training courses are available at www.allergy.org.au/anaphylaxis

ASCIA anaphylaxis education and training resources have been developed to assist with:

• Prevention of anaphylaxis, including strategies to avoid exposure to allergens.
• Emergency treatment of anaphylaxis, to prevent unnecessary death or disability.
• Providing accessible, consistent and evidence-based information from a reliable source.

*ReadSpeaker is available on the ASCIA webpages for patients, consumers and carers, to improve access for people with:

• Vision impairment, limited reading ability or learning disabilities, by allowing text to speech (TTS).
• Non-English speaking backgrounds - information can be translated into 20 different languages by highlighting the text and selecting 'translate’.

ASCIA will continue to review and update anaphylaxis resources and e-training courses as new information is available. 

ASCIA Allergy, Immunodeficiency, Autoimmunity and COVID-19 Vaccination - Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) for patients, consumers and carers has been updated In response to the arrival of the Moderna Spikevax vaccine in Australia and is available open access at www.allergy.org.au/patients/ascia-covid-19-vaccination-faq

ASCIA develops and updates this FAQ as a service to ASCIA members and the public for the following reasons:

• COVID-19 vaccines available in Australia and New Zealand are effective and safe for people with allergies, immunodeficiencies or autoimmune conditions, as they are not live-attenuated vaccines and do not contain food allergens.
• COVID-19 vaccination is an important way to reduce the risk of developing disease and spreading COVID-19 in the community.
• COVID-19 vaccination information needs to be accessible, consistent, evidence-based and from a reliable source.

ASCIA Allergy, Immunodeficiency, Autoimmunity and COVID-19 Vaccination FAQ has been viewed around 100,000 times since it was first published in February 2021, including more than 33,000 views in August 2021. ASCIA will continue to review and update the FAQ as new information is available.  

ReadSpeaker is available on the ASCIA COVID-19 vaccination FAQ webpage, to improve access for people with:

• Vision impairment, limited reading ability or learning disabilities, by allowing text to speech (TTS).
• Non-English speaking backgrounds - information can be translated into 20 different languages by highlighting the text and selecting 'translate’.

ASCIA COVID-19 vaccination information for health professionals has also been updated and is available on the ASCIA website www.allergy.org.au/members/covid-19#cd1

The specific weblinks are as follows:

• COVID-19 Vaccination Guidelines for Clinical Immunology/Allergy Specialists Updated September 2021
• Allergy, Immunodeficiency, Autoimmunity and COVID-19 Vaccination - Position Statement for health professionals Updated September 2021
• Allergy and COVID-19 Vaccination - Guide for health professionals Updated September 2021
• Immunodeficiency, Autoimmunity and COVID-19 Vaccination - Guide for health professionals Updated September 2021

ASCIA does not receive commercial or government funding for developing or updating these resources.

Welcome to the ASCIA 2021 Virtual Conference which runs from Wednesday 1^st to Friday 3^rd September. We now have over 600 registered delegates, making this the largest ever ASCIA Conference and the major educational event for ASCIA members in 2021. 

To view the Program Book go to https://ascia2021.com/program.php 

If you have not yet registered go to https://ascia2021.com/registration.php

The ASCIA 2021 Conference provides registered delegates with access to:

• An international standard of continuing professional development and medical education (CPD/CME) in our own time zones.
• Presentations by 58 speakers in the main program (including 12 international experts - see PROGRAM UPDATES below), 31 presenters in 17 sponsored sessions, 19 Clinical Grand Round (CGR) case presenters, 71 poster presenters, 11 AIFA research grant recipients and 9 CFAR food allergy research ‘hot publication’ authors.
• Concurrent programs for Nurses, Dietitians and Associate Medical Days on Friday.
• An interactive program that allows delegates to submit questions online during live Q&A sessions.
• Video recordings of all sessions on the ASCIA 2021 Conference platform, available until 3^rd December 2021.
• The 3D exhibition hall, to request updates about products, other information and samples from exhibitors.

The reasonably priced registration fees provide delegates with exceptional value, which is possible due to the support from ASCIA 2021 Conference Sponsors and Exhibitors.

PROGRAM UPDATES:

• Prof Tari Haahtela (Finland) will now be presenting on Biodiversity Exposure and Allergy Prevention as a keynote speaker in the CFAR Symposium, in place of Prof Antonella Muraro (Italy), who was unfortunately unable to present. Prof Haahtela’s presentation on this topic was a highlight of the recent EAACI 2021 Hybrid Congress program.
• The COVID-19 Pandemic - Where have we come from, where are we going and what have we learnt? dinner meeting presentation by Dr Norman Swan on the evening of Thursday 2^nd September will now include live online Q&A, to reflect the rapidly changing situation with the pandemic.
• Sponsored Session presenters and chairs are now included on pages 10-11 in the Program Book.
• Dinner Meetings planned for Auckland, Melbourne and Sydney have been postponed due to lockdowns in these cities. Future dates will be advised once restrictions are lifted.

We take this opportunity to acknowledge the very challenging situation for everyone affected by current COVID-19 outbreaks and lockdowns in Australia and New Zealand. This includes:

• More than two thirds of ASCIA 2021 Conference speakers, chairs, delegates, sponsors and exhibitors who are located in Sydney, Melbourne and Auckland.
• ASCIA and ICMSA staff who have organised the Conference, and are based in Sydney and Melbourne.

Lockdown fatigue is an ongoing issue and we hope that the ASCIA 2021 Conference helps to provide you with a welcome change in routine, as well as an outstanding program.

Please refer to the Program Book https://ascia2021.com/program.php for more details about presentations by:

• 58 speakers in the main program, including 12 international experts (pages 4-8)
• 11 AIFA research grant recipients (page 9)
• 31 presenters in 17 sponsored sessions (pages 10-11)
• 19 Clinical Grand Round (CGR) case presenters (pages 12-13)
• 71 poster presenters (pages 14-20)
• 9 CFAR hot publication (food allergy research) authors (pages 21-22)

We look forward to your participation in the ASCIA 2021 Virtual Conference.

The annual awards for outstanding contributions made by members of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians are of special importance. They are highly valued for their prestige and are an acknowledgment from peers and colleagues of achievements which might not otherwise be publicly recognised. Nominations for the following prestigious Awards close on Tuesday, 14 September 2021.

• John Sands Medal for significant contribution to the welfare of the College
• College Medal -“hominum servire saluti” for significant contribution to medical practice, healthcare and health of the people/community
• RACP International Medal
• RACP Medal for Clinical Services in Rural and Remote Areas
• Mentor of the Year Award
• Trainee of the Year Award

The presentations of these awards are made at the RACP Convocation Ceremony or RACP Congress 2022.

Full details are available on the RACP Foundation website or email the This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
with enquiries.

Neil Hamilton Fairley Medal 

The Neil Hamilton Fairley Medal is only awarded by the RACP every five years in recognition of an individual who has made outstanding contributions to the field of medicine. The award is open to both RACP Fellows as well as non-members of the College. However, the nominee must be nominated by a Fellow of the RACP to be considered.

Details regarding the application process and selection criteria are available on the website. Nominations close on Tuesday, 31 August 2021.

Australia’s 35,000-member EpiClub^® program has been revamped and rebranded by Viatris (formerly Mylan) as the MyEpiPen^® Patient Support Program.

Benefits for patients who join MyEpiPen^® include:

• Free EpiPen^® trainer devices
• Email and SMS reminder service for patients before their EpiPen^® adrenaline (epinephrine) Auto-Injector devices expire.
• ‘How to use’ cards to keep at home and share with others.
• Video explainers in 26 languages that are appropriate for new patients and as refreshers for experienced patients.
• Real-world patient videos in which parents and patients describe their experiences with using EpiPen^® for first aid.
• Evidence-based information to help people understand more about anaphylaxis and their EpiPen^® Auto-Injectors.
• Regular newsletters to keep patients up to date with relevant information.
• Evidence-based information to help people understand more about anaphylaxis and their EpiPen^® Auto-Injectors, with links to ASCIA anaphylaxis resources, such as the EpiPen^® version of the ASCIA Action Plan for Anaphylaxis.
• MyEpiPen^® Welcome Kits which include the bag tag and wallet card that were developed by ASCIA after liaising with the team at Viatris. 

To access MyEpiPen^® go to https://www.myepipen.com.au/

Patients in New Zealand are currently on a separate EpiClub^® NZ site, and will transition to  MyEpiPen^® in the near future.

Anapen^® 150, 300 and 500 adrenaline (epinephrine) autoinjectors are now available in Australia on the PBS as of 1st September 2021 in Australia. 

Anapen^® is being made available by Allergy Concepts, which has partnered with Arrotex to ensure widespread availability in pharmacies across Australia.  

Email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to request further information and supply of an Anapen^® Trainer for demonstrating how to use the device. 

Allergy Concepts has aligned itself with several organisations to offer patient support services, which include:

• Free Anapen^® trainers available on demand from treating doctors.
• Anapen^® trainers available via Allergy Anaphylaxis Australia (A&AA) and local pharmacies.
• Free pharmacy support at participating pharmacies that can be located using https://anapen.pharmaprograms.com.au/locator/

The free pharmacy support includes:

• Device demonstration using an Anapen^® trainer
• Patient support pack including an Anapen^® patient information leaflet, ASCIA Action Plan for Anaphylaxis (Anapen^® version), ASCIA Travel Plan for Anaphylaxis, Anapen^® how to use card and access to an optional patient sms/email Anapen^® expiry reminder.

The Anapen® website  www.anapen.com.au includes links to how to use videos, education information, ASCIA and A&AA anaphylaxis resources.

Whilst the availability of another brand of adrenaline autoinjector in Australia should address any future product shortages, it is important that prescribers and their patients are familiar with both brands.

Anapen^® is available in three dose strengths:

• 150 microgram for young children (7.5 Kg to 20 Kg )
• 300 microgram for children (>20 Kg) and adults
• 500 microgram for anyone weighing more than 50 Kg. 

The range of strengths is included in the 2021 ASCIA Guidelines for Acute Management of Anaphylaxis www.allergy.org.au/hp/papers/acute-management-of-anaphylaxis-guidelines and other ASCIA anaphylaxis resources, such as the Anapen^® version of the ASCIA Action Plan for Anaphylaxis. To access these resources visit www.allergy.org.au/anaphylaxis   

ASCIA Anaphylaxis e-training courses for Schools, Children’s Education/Care (CEC) and  Community have being updated to include information about Anapen^® and are available at www.allergy.org.au/about-ascia/about-ascia-e-training