Diphtheria Outbreak Response Immunisation Program

The state-funded Diphtheria Outbreak Response Immunisation Program (the Program) has been introduced in response to an increase in diphtheria cases in Aboriginal communities.

Vaccination against diphtheria is most effective at preventing severe disease. Vaccines to protect against diphtheria have been around and safely used in our immunisation programs to protect young children, teenagers and pregnant women against diphtheria for many years.

Diphtheria vaccine program priority areas

  • Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara (APY) Lands
  • Oak Valley
  • Yalata
  • Ceduna (and surrounds)
  • Oodnadatta
  • Coober Pedy

SA Health is providing free, state-funded diphtheria-containing vaccines to the following priority groups:

  • High and medium risk contacts1 of a confirmed diphtheria case who have not had a diphtheria-containing vaccination in the past 12 months.
  • Low risk contacts1 who have not had a diphtheria-containing vaccination in the past 5 years.
  • Aboriginal people 10 years and older residing in SA who have not had a diphtheria-containing vaccination in the past 5 years.

1Contacts as identified in the SA Health – Diphtheria Contact Management Table.

Children, adolescents and women who are pregnant living in priority outbreak areas should be age appropriately vaccinated as per the National Immunisation Program.

National Immunisation Program (NIP) Funded Doses

Free diphtheria-containing vaccines are also available through the National Immunisation Program for:

  • Infants and children: 6 weeks, 4 months, 6 months, 18 months and 4 years
  • Adolescents: Year 7 (School Immunisation Program)
  • Young people: Catch-up vaccinations up to 20 years of age
  • In pregnancy

Healthcare & frontline workers* who work in program priority areas, as well as those who work with remote visitors from these priority areas to Adelaide, Port Augusta, Port Pirie and Whyalla if more than 5 years since their last diphtheria containing vaccination are eligible.

*Workers who have direct patient care, emergency and essential service workers (police, paramedics, first responders), education and corrections staff, community service workers with direct community contact, cleaners/staff who have regular contact with contaminated surfaces, linen and wound dressings, laboratory staff handling specimens.

For full eligibility details, refer to the South Australian Diphtheria Outbreak Immunisation Schedule (PDF 249KB).

Where to get vaccinated

APY Lands

Vaccination for eligible cohorts will be available through Nganampa Health Council (NHC), with assistance from third party providers where necessary.

NHC will be holding 3 diphtheria pop-up vaccination clinics as follows:

  • Mimili Clinic - Wednesday 27 May 4:00 pm - 6:00 pm
  • Pukatja Clinic - Thursday 28 May 4:00 pm - 6:00 pm
  • Amata Clinic - Saturday 30 May 10:00 am - 12:00 pm

Pipalyatjara Clinic will vaccinate during regular clinic hours.

The pop-up clinics are for Non-Anangu service employees on the APY Lands.

Clinics are available where it has been more than 5 years since a person’s last diphtheria containing vaccine.

Clinics are for diphtheria vaccination only, flu vaccines will not be available.

A new patient enrolment form (PDF 189KB) needs to be completed and returned to med-admin@palya.org.au two days prior to attending a clinic (by COB Monday 25 May if possible).

Regional Program Priority Areas

Vaccination for eligible cohorts are available through routine providers such as:

  • Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations (ACCHOs)
  • GPs
  • Regional pharmacies
  • Local Health Networks (Healthcare and frontline workers)

Metropolitan Adelaide

Vaccination will be available for eligible cohorts in metropolitan Adelaide through:

  • Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations (ACCHOs) for Aboriginal people and their families
  • Priority Care Centres (Marion, Para Hills, Hindmarsh, Elizabeth and Mount Barker)
  • Select pharmacies (Terry White Chemmart Gilles Plains, Terry White Chemmart Christies Beach Compounding and Haddad Pharmacy Group Unley)

NIP funded doses

Available through routine immunisation providers.

Resources

Contact

For enquires contact the Communicable Disease Control Branch (CDCB):

 1300 232 272 (24 hours/7 days).