Senator Jacinta Collins asked the Minister representing the Minister for Health and Ageing, upon notice, on 31 March 2004:

(1) What cost savings will result from the removal from the National Immunisation Program of the dose of diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis (whooping cough) vaccine given to children at the age of 18 months.

(2) In light of this decision, have there been any changes to the Child Care Benefit payment or the Maternity Immunisation Allowance payment, or are any changes to this payment contemplated.

Senator Ian Campbell (Minister for Local Government, Territories and Roads) —The Minister for Health and Ageing has provided the following answer to the honourable senator's question:

(1) The 18 month dose of diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis (DTPa) vaccine was removed from the National Immunisation Program on the recommendation of the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI). This dose was considered to be unnecessary as a result of the high level of immunity from the primary course at 2, 4, and 6 months of age. This dose also had an increased risk of local adverse events following immunisation.

Removing this unnecessary dose of DTPa, will result in a saving to the National Immunisation Program. As this was the only vaccine administered at 18 months, savings are also expected in relation to payments under the Medicare Benefits Scheme and notification payments to immunisation providers.

The ATAGI recommended the introduction of a dose of adult formulation diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis (dTpa) vaccine at 15-17 years, to replace the current dose of diphtheria and tetanus vaccine (ADT) vaccine provided at 15-19 years of age. The cost of replacing ADT with dTpa vaccine, taking into consideration the savings resulting from the removal of the 18 month dose of DTPa, is $5.36 million over four years.

(2) Effective from 19 September 2003, the 18 month dose of diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis (DTPa) vaccine was removed from the immunisation requirements for Child Care Benefit and Maternity Immunisation Allowance payments.

The legislation governing immunisation linkages to Child Care Benefit and Maternity Immunisation Allowance (A New Tax System (Family Assistance) Act 1999) is administered by the Department of Family and Community Services.