Information updates

The ASCIA Immunodeficiency Strategy was launched on 29 April 2022. ASCIA has worked in collaboration with patient organisations (IDFA, AusPips, IDFNZ and HAE Australasia), and other stakeholders to develop the Strategy. The first goal of the Strategy is to enable early diagnosis of severe combined immune deficiency (SCID) by newborn screening of the Australian population. 

Following the Strategy launch and long term advocacy by patient organisations and ASCIA members, ASCIA welcomes the formal recommendation for SCID to be included in Australian Newborn Bloodspot Screening Programs which was recently announced in a media statement by the Australian Government https://www.health.gov.au/ministers/the-hon-mark-butler-mp/media/international-neonatal-screening-day

It is anticipated that other Australian states will also make funding commitments for SCID newborn screening.

The incidence of SCID is about 1 in 58,000 births. Most patients with SCID have a genetically identifiable cause, and usually develop severe, recurrent, persistent and opportunistic respiratory and gastrointestinal infections within the first few months of life, with failure to thrive. SCID is fatal in the first two years of life without early and definitive intervention which is enabled by newborn screening.

The ASCIA Immunodeficiency Strategy is available at https://www.nationalimmunodeficiencystrategy.org.au/

To read more about the Strategy launch go to https://www.allergy.org.au/about-ascia/info-updates/ascia-immunodeficiency-strategy-launch

ASCIA 2022 Conference, 30 August - 2 September 2022, Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre 

We have received a record number of poster abstacts (101) in addition to 18 clinical grand rounds (CGR) abstracts.  The deadline for abstract submission was 11 July 2022, but registration is still open. 

To register go here

To view the program book go here

The Australian Autoinflammatory Disease Symposium 2022 is being held at the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute (WEHI) in Melbourne on Monday 29 August 2022, prior to the ASCIA 2022 Conference.
To read more and register go here www.allergy.org.au/about-ascia/info-updates/autoinflammatory-disease-symposium 

ASCIA 2022 Annual General Meeting (AGM) is being held at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre on Friday 2 September, 16.30-17.30 and ASCIA members are invited to attend. To read more go here https://www.allergy.org.au/members/ascia-agm

Following cessation of the temporary telehealth arrangements on 30 June 2022, the following permanent telehealth arrangements for medical specialists and consultant physicians in Australia apply from 1 July 2022:

• A full range of services are catered for through 42 permanent telehealth video and 9 telephone items for specialists and consultant physicians.
• Telehealth services for initial and subsequent attendances are permanently rebated through the MBS where delivered by videoconference, and minor attendances are permanently rebated when delivered by telephone or videoconference. These ongoing telehealth items took effect on 1 January 2022.
• In line with this, MBS rebates for specialist services by phone will continue to be available, in the form of less complex or shorter subsequent consultations, and for consultations up to 45 minutes in duration for psychiatry. 
• The arrangements reflect an accepted clinical position that face to face and video services support better patient care and outcomes, and should be the preferred form of consultation with patients, particularly for initial and complex consultations.
• The Government has indicated it intends to defer to 1 October 2022, the implementation of the telephone specific 30/20 compliance rule which was to take effect on 1 July 2022.  

Additional information on the permanent telehealth items is available in the new Fact Sheet on the MBSOnline website MBS online - MBS Telehealth Services from 1 July 2022

If you have any questions in relation to this matter please direct these to the Medical Specialist Services Section via email at: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

The Centre for Food & Allergy Research (CFAR) Hot Publications session is being held on Wednesday 31 August 2022, 11.30-13.00 AEST, as part of the ASCIA 2022 Conference in Melbourne.  This session features brief oral presentations summarising food allergy research that has recently been published or accepted for publication in peer-reviewed journals. Selection will take into account journal impact factor and novelty of the work.

Submissions are invited for recently or soon-to-be published work for a CFAR Hot Publications presentation by emailing This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. by 11 July 2022 with the following information:

Presenter’s name:

Presenter’s primary affiliation:

Presentation title:

Abstract:

Manuscript status* (select one): submitted, under review, accepted, in press, published

Citation information* (as applicable – journal, date submitted/accepted):

Please confirm that you have completed your early bird registration to attend Wednesday 31/8 of the ASCIA 2022 Conference**

*Manuscript status and citation information will be confirmed/updated for selected speakers in late July.

**Applicants should arrange their own day only (Wednesday 31 August) or full conference registration, and CFAR will reimburse Hot Publications speakers for the cost of early bird registration for one day in person ($280-380) or virtual ($220-250) attendance.

Presentations and Q&A will be live on Wednesday 31 August, so speakers must be available to attend the ASCIA 2022 Conference on Wednesday 31 August, either in person or virtually. Speakers who attend virtually will also need to pre-record their presentation.

The theme for World Allergy Week 2022 (5 to 11 June) is respiratory allergic diseases, including asthma. The importance of the connection between allergic airway diseases and asthma is reflected in the ASCIA 2022 Conference program and ASCIA online resources:  

• The ASCIA 2022 Conference program features a Challenging Asthma Symposium as well as a Pollen Allergy Symposium.  Discounted earlybird registration and abstract submission close on 4 July 2022.
• ASCIA allergic rhinitis e-training for health professionals has recently been updated to include information about chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP) and is available at https://etraininghp.ascia.org.au/
• ASCIA has recently developed a CRSwNP Position Paper which is available at www.allergy.org.au/hp/papers/crswnp
• The ASCIA website includes respiratory allergy resources www.allergy.org.au/allergic-rhinitis 

World Allergy Week is a global campaign of the World Allergy Organisation (WAO), which aims to raise awareness of the impact of allergic diseases in our communities. 

WAO will host its official World Allergy Week 2022 webinar on Thursday 9 June, beginning at 8:00 am US Eastern Daylight Time. (Click here to search for your corresponding time zone.) Duration: approximately 90 minutes - Click here to register. 

The connection between asthma and allergic airway diseases is important, and it is known that asthma and allergies in the upper airways frequently co-exist. This can aggravate breathing difficulty, wheezing, cough, and other respiratory problems. Treating asthma and upper airway allergies together helps improve both problems. Integrated diagnostic and therapeutic approaches become even more important with severe and difficult-to-control disease. Fortunately, there are treatment options and patient education tools that can help to address such challenges.

The 2nd Australian Autoinflammatory Disease Symposium is being hosted by the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute (WEHI) on Monday 29 August 2022, prior to the ASCIA 2022 Conference in Melbourne.

People with egg allergy may be safely vaccinated with the influenza (flu) vaccine. 

Information about Influenza vaccination and egg allergy is available on the ASCIA website https://www.allergy.org.au/patients/food-allergy/egg-allergy-flu-vaccine 

People with mammalian meat allergy may also be safely vaccinated with the influenza (flu) vaccine.

For people with alpha gal sensitisation or mammalian meat allergy or a history of tick anaphylaxis, VAXIGRIP TETRA and AFLURIA QUAD appear to be the safest options, or FLUAD QUAD for people over 65 years, as they do not appear to contain any mammalian products.. 

FLUCELVAX is made in canine kidney and therefore is likely contra-indicated in people with alpha gal sensitisation or mammalian meat allergy.

The ASCIA Immunodeficiency Strategy for Australia and New Zealand aims to enhance the important work of organisations that support  people with primary immunodeficiencies and their carers, and enable key issues to be addressed, including early diagnosis and improved access to appropriate treatments.

ASCIA commends the outstanding work in advocacy and patient support provided by the following organisations:

IDFA (Immune Deficiencies Foundation Australia) www.idfa.org.au 

IDFA 2022214.33 KB

IDFNZ (Immune Deficiencies Foundation New Zealand) https://idfnz.org.nz/

IDFNZ Update 2022223.12 KB

IDFNZ printed information order form123.96 KB

AusPIPS (Australian Primary Immunodeficiency Patient Support) www.auspips.org.au 

AusPIPS Update 202279.85 KB

HAE (Hereditary Angioedema) Australasia www.haeaustralasia.org.au 

HAE Australasia 20221.58 MB