GPII provides financial incentives to general practitioners (GPs) that monitor, promote and provide age appropriate immunisation services to children under the age of seven years. The overall aim of the GPII scheme is to encourage at least 90 per cent of practices to achieve 90 per cent proportions of full immunisation.

The overall aim of the GPII scheme is to encourage at least 90 per cent of practices to achieve 90 per cent proportions of full immunisation. This milestone was accomplished in the May 2003 quarter.

Why was the GPII scheme developed
Reducing the incidence of vaccine-preventable diseases is one of the significant public health achievements of the past 100 years. Comprehensive levels of vaccination have led to dramatic decreases in childhood diseases such as poliomyelitis and diphtheria.

When the GPII scheme was implemented in 1998, it was considered that the number of children in Australia who were fully immunised was too low to prevent transmission of some vaccine-preventable diseases. For many children this resulted in sickness, hospitalisation, and sometimes death. Those who are not immunised, or not fully immunised, have a much higher chance of infection, which can lead to disease outbreaks and epidemics.

The Federal Government has been committed to improving the nation’s childhood immunisation levels, and, in 1997, established the Immunise Australia: the Seven Point Plan. The GPII scheme was one of a wide range of initiatives introduced under the Plan.

The importance of general practice
GPs are one of the key groups able to improve the nation’s childhood immunisation level. They have significant levels of contact with the target group - children under the age of seven.

Each consultation is an opportunity for monitoring a child’s immunisation status and for providing immunisation services if required. It is for this reason that GPs have been specifically targeted in this immunisation strategy.

The GPII scheme is not simply payment for direct immunisation services. The incentives are aimed at helping to improve the national immunisation level. This can be achieved by GPs actively encouraging and promoting immunisation generally, as well as providing immunisations themselves.

This initiative is intended to augment the services provided by local governments and Public Health Units in order to help improve Australia’s immunisation level.

Links
www.medicareaustralia.gov.au/provider/incentives/gpii/index.shtml

LOCAL IMMUNISATION COORDINATOR
The immunisation program has been developed and implemented in cooperation with the SA Department of Health.

The primary focus of the program is to increase immunisation uptake, and reduce the incidence of vaccine preventable diseases on Eyre Peninsula. The Division supports general practitioners and other public providers to increase their knowledge of immunisation issues and procedures, improving systems for data return to ACIR (Australian Childhood Immunisation Register), cold chain management, and raising public awareness of the importance of immunisation.

The role of the Local Immunisation Coordinator includes liaison between GPs, SAICU, SADI, local governments, hospitals, other public providers, and the general community to achieve optimum health outcomes.

A resource folder has been developed as an easy reference guide for all GPs in the Division. Please contact the coordinator if you require a copy of this folder. This complements the information contained in the Australian Immunisation Handbook that gives guidance about vaccination, and vaccine preventable diseases in Australia.

Contact the EPDGP for assistance with immunisation queries, requests for resources to complement your practice, or educational updates.

Interesting links - visit the links below, then close the browser to return to this page

Department of Human Services www.dh.sa.gov.au/pehs then follow link to Immunisation

Immunisation Calculator (for children up to 7yrs) www.health.sa.gov.au/immunisationcalculator

Medicare Australia website www.medicareaustralia.gov.au then follow links to Health Providers