Comprehensive observational study evaluating the enduring effectiveness of 4CMenB, the meningococcal B vaccine against gonococcal infections in the Northern Territory and South Australia, Australia: study protocol.

Introduction: The effectiveness of antibiotics for treating gonococcal infections is compromised due to escalating antibiotic resistance; and the development of an effective gonococcal vaccine has been challenging. Emerging evidence suggests that the licensed meningococcal B (MenB) vaccine, 4CMenB is effective against gonococcal infections due to cross-reacting antibodies and 95% genetic homology between the two bacteria, and that cause the diseases. This project aims to undertake epidemiological and genomic surveillance to evaluate the long-term protection of the 4CMenB vaccine against gonococcal infections in the Northern Territory (NT) and South Australia (SA), and to determine the potential benefit of a booster vaccine doses to provide longer-term protection against gonococcal infections.

An Observational Study to Assess the Effectiveness of 4CMenB against Meningococcal Disease and Carriage and Gonorrhea in Adolescents in the Northern Territory, Australia-Study Protocol.

Invasive meningococcal disease (IMD) causes significant morbidity and mortality worldwide with serogroup B being the predominant serogroup in Australia and other countries for the past few decades. The licensed 4CMenB vaccine is effective in preventing meningococcal B disease. Emerging evidence suggests that although 4CMenB impact on carriage is limited, it may be effective against gonorrhoea due to genetic similarities between .

Gaps in maternal influenza vaccine uptake in Northern Territory: A need for a year-round influenza vaccination campaign.

Introduction: Maternal influenza vaccination was introduced in 2010 due to the high morbidity and mortality associated with influenza in pregnancy. The aim of this study was to assess the maternal influenza vaccination uptake in Northern Territory public hospitals and identify gaps to improve uptake.

Methods: Birth data from Northern Territory (NT) public hospitals obtained from the Perinatal Register for deliveries in 2016 were merged with vaccination records from the NT immunisation register.

HPV vaccination coverage and course completion rates for Indigenous Australian adolescents, 2015.

Objective: To estimate human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination coverage and course completion rates for Indigenous adolescents in four Australian states and territories.

Participants, Setting: Adolescents who were 12 years old in 2015 and received the quadrivalent HPV vaccine (three doses: 0, 2, 6 months) as part of the National HPV Vaccination Program in 2015 or 2016 in New South Wales, Queensland, the Northern Territory, or the Australian Capital Territory.

Main Outcome Measures: Estimated HPV vaccination coverage by dose and by Indigenous status and sex, based on National HPV Vaccination Program Register data; vaccination course completion rates (proportion of dose 1 recipients who received dose 3) for 12-year-olds vaccinated during 2013-2016, by sex, jurisdiction, and Indigenous status.

Current antenatal pertussis vaccination guidelines miss preterm infants: An epidemiological study from the Northern Territory.

Importance: Assessing gaps in antenatal pertussis vaccination to increase coverage.

Introduction: Antenatal pertussis vaccination has been proven effective in reducing pertussis disease in infants. Current guidelines recommend maternal pertussis vaccination from 28 weeks gestation.

Adolescent school-based vaccination in Australia.

Adolescents have become an increasingly prominent target group for vaccination in Australia and other developed countries. Over the past decade, voluntary school-based vaccination programs have evolved to become the primary method of delivering adolescent vaccines funded under Australia's National Immunisation Program (NIP). These programs operate at a state and territory level and offer NIP vaccines to adolescents in specific school grades using local teams of trained vaccine providers.

Interim estimates of human papillomavirus vaccination coverage in the school-based program in Australia.

In November 2006, the Australian Government announced the National HPV Vaccination Program, consisting of a course of prophylactic human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine for all Australian females aged 12-26 years. Females aged 12-18 years are vaccinated through school-based programs. The school-based component commenced in April 2007, with the school years targeted varying across jurisdictions.

Vegetation fires, particulate air pollution and asthma: a panel study in the Australian monsoon tropics.

We examined the relationship between particulate matter (PM) <10 and <2.5 microns in diameter (PM10 and PM2.5) generated by vegetation fires and daily health outcomes in 251 adults and children with asthma over a 7-month period.

Intussusception in the Northern Territory: the incidence is low in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children.

Aim: To describe the epidemiology, immunisation status and management of children with intussusception in the Northern Territory (NT), 1993-2003.

Methods: Intussusception data were obtained from all NT hospitals using the International Classification of Diseases (ICD 9/10) codes for children under 18 years of age between 1993 and 2003. Medical records of these children were used to collect information on demographics, admission date, clinical symptoms, signs and management.