Mark Butler bullish that Shingrix supplies will cover expanded NIP listing
The health minister says 500,000 doses are available, as 215,000 more patients become NIP-eligible.
Another 215,000 patients are now eligible for free shingles vaccination as the government assures GPs it has bought enough of the recombinant vaccine Shingrix to meet demand.
Last week, the National Immunisation Program (NIP) expanded to adults at “moderate” risk of severe infection or complications from shingles.
“People with HIV will be captured, people on dialysis, with advanced stage kidney disease and many others besides,” Minister for Health and Aged Care Mark Butler said on Sunday.
The existing NIP listing covered patients aged 65 and over, Indigenous patients aged 50 and over, and immunocompromised adults with advanced or untreated HIV, haematological malignancy, solid organ transplants or haematopoietic stem cell transplants.
