Immunisation advisers appointed
Members of the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) have been appointed and new advisory arrangements will clarify the process for recommending vaccines for government funding and increasing process transparency.
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21 October 2005
ABB128/05
I am pleased to announce the appointment of the reconstituted Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI), to serve under the group’s new chair, Professor Terry Nolan.
Membership of the ATAGI was reviewed following changes announced in the last Budget. The new advisory arrangements will clarify the process for recommending vaccines for government funding while increasing the consistency and transparency of the process for industry and the community.
ATAGI will receive additional funding support of $5 million over four years to strengthen its ongoing role in providing evidence-based clinical advice on the medical administration of vaccines.
New funding of $7.8 million over the next four years will also be provided to expand the role of the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee (PBAC) to include evaluating the cost effectiveness of new vaccines for funding under the government’s National Immunisation Program.
New ATAGI membership includes public health and infectious diseases experts, medical practitioners, as well as nursing and consumer representatives. Its key role is to provide advice on technical matters relating to the medical administration of vaccines available in Australia, including those funded under the National Immunisation Program. It will also consider vaccines likely to be approved in Australia and will liaise with bodies responsible for the safe and effective implementation of the National Immunisation Program.
The group will continue to provide evidence-based clinical advice to me, the National Health and Medical Research Council and all immunisation providers and interested parties as author of the Australian Immunisation Handbook. This is a valuable service for all Australians.
Professor Nolan was a key member of the previous ATAGI membership, and I am delighted that he is able to continue his role in immunisation by fulfilling the challenging role of the Chair of ATAGI.
A complete list of new, ongoing and ex-officio members is attached.
For more information call Mr Abbott's office on ph 02 6277 7220.
ATAGI Members
Professor Terry Nolan (Chair) - Professor Nolan is Head of the School of Population Health at the University of Melbourne. He is a paediatrician and epidemiologist, and is the Deputy Chair of the Research Committee of the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC).New Members
Dr Sue Skull - Dr Skull is Deputy Director of the Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics Unit at the Royal Children’s Hospital in Melbourne and Senior Lecturer in the University of Melbourne’s Department of Paediatrics.Dr Peter Richmond - Dr Richmond is the senior lecturer at the School of Paediatrics and Child Health at the University of Western Australia, and Head of Department of the Vaccine Trials Group, Children’s Clinical Research Facility at the Princess Margaret Hospital in Perth. He is also a general paediatrician and paediatric immunologist.
Dr Nicole Gilroy - Dr Gilroy is an infectious diseases physician at Westmead Hospital in Sydney. She has a Master of Applied Epidemiology.
Dr Michael Nissen - Dr Nissen is Director, Infectious Diseases and Unit Head of Molecular Microbiology Research Unit at the Albert Sakzewki Viral Research Centre based at the Royal Children’s Hospital in Brisbane. He is also a clinical microbiologist at Queensland Health Pathology Services.
Dr Rodney Pearce - Dr Pearce is a general practitioner from Adelaide. He is the Principle General Practitioner at Athelstone and Beulah Park Medical Clinic and is the Chair of the Australian Medical Association Council of General Practice.
Dr Joanne Molloy - Dr Molloy is a general practitioner from Melbourne. She is also the Immunisation Program Manager for the Geelong Division of General Practice and the Medical Officer of Health for the City of Greater Geelong.
Ms Ann Kempe - Ms Kempe is the Research and Project Coordinator at the Immunisation Centre for Clinical and Research Excellence based at the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute. She is a registered nurse and midwife with extensive experience in the implementation and management of immunisation programs.
Ongoing Members
Professor David Isaacs - Professor Isaacs is the Clinical Director of Education and Clinical Professor at the University of Sydney. He is also a paediatrician at the Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, based at The Children’s Hospital at Westmead in Sydney. He is currently a member of the Adverse Drug Reactions Advisory Committee of the Therapeutic Goods Administration.Dr Jeffrey Hanna - Dr Hanna is Medical Director of the Tropical Public Health Unit, Queensland Health, in Cairns. He is a public health physician with extensive knowledge and experience in the management of communicable diseases.
Ms Jennifer Howlett - Ms Howlett is the consumer representative on the Tasmanian Immunisation Reference Group, and has extensive experience in presenting a consumer perspective on immunisation issues.
Ex-officio members
Professor Peter McIntyre - Professor McIntyre is the Director of the National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance of Vaccine Preventable Diseases.Dr Linda Selvey - Dr Selvey is the Communicable Diseases Unit Manager in Queensland Health, and the nominated representative of the Communicable Diseases Network Australia.
Ms Sue Campbell-Lloyd - Ms Campbell-Lloyd is the NSW immunisation coordinator and the nominated representative of the National Immunisation Committee.
Dr Grahame Dickson - Dr Dickson is the Director, Evaluation Unit 2, Drug Safety and Evaluation Branch at the Therapeutic Goods Administration.
Ms Carolyn Smith - Ms Smith is the Assistant Secretary, Targeted Prevention Programs Branch, Population Health Division, in the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing.
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