As a stakeholder that may be impacted by the proposed change, health care professionals are invited to provide feedback on the proposal through the public consultation that is now open.  

Proposed change

The proposed scheduling amendments under consideration would create a new entry in Schedule 10 of the Poisons Standard for products that contain over 15 per cent of the substance. Concentrations below 15 per cent would still in in their current schedules, including being unscheduled for less than 0.5 per cent, in therapeutic goods or when used in aerosols.

Medicines and chemicals scheduling

By way of background, scheduling is a national classification system that controls how medicines and chemicals are made available to the public. Medicines and chemicals are classified into Schedules in the Poisons Standard according to the risk of harm and the level of access control required to protect public health and safety. Scheduling decisions are made by a senior medical officer at the TGA acting as a Delegate of the Secretary of the Commonwealth Department of Health (the Delegate).

Following the current consultation process, the proposed amendments will be referred for advice to the upcoming meeting of the Advisory Committees on Medicines and Chemicals Scheduling (Joint ACMS/ACCS #28) to be held on 22-24 June 2021. 

When a substance is referred to an advisory committee on scheduling, there are two periods of public consultation; the first at the pre-meeting stage, and the second in response to the Delegate’s interim decision. The Delegate’s interim decision is made following consideration of the committee’s advice and the public submissions received during the first consultation. After the public consultation on the interim decision, the Delegate makes the final decision, which is published on the TGA website. Scheduling decisions come into effect on the implementation date given in the Delegate’s final decision.  Further information about the scheduling process and timeframes is available on the TGA website at: www.tga.gov.au/scheduling-medicines-poisons

The first of the public consultations for these proposals has now opened on the TGA website and the TGA are seeking your comment. This consultation closes on Thursday 27 May 2021.

How to provide feedback

If you would like to provide feedback on the proposed changes, please submit your comments through TGA's consultation hub.  To view the pre-meeting notices, which contain more information about the proposed change, please see the Scheduling notification webpage.

If you require any further information on the Scheduling proposals, please contact the Secretariat by email at Medicines.Scheduling@health.gov.au

My Health Record practical demonstrations:

• Best Practice – dates until the 30 June 2021. - This activity is CPD accredited by AAPM, RACGP and ACRRM
• MedicalDirector – dates until the 30 June 2021. - This activity is CPD accredited by AAPM, RACGP and ACRRM
• Genie – dates until the 30 June 2021. - This activity is CPD accredited by AAPM, RACGP and ACRRM
• Zedmed – dates until the 30 June 2021. - This activity is CPD accredited by AAPM, RACGP and ACRRM
• Communicare – dates until the 30 June 2021. - This activity is CPD accredited by AAPM, RACGP and ACRRM

Other My Health Record webinars:

• National Provider Portal (NPP) – dates until the 30 June 2021. - This activity is CPD accredited by AAPM, RACGP, and ACRRM
• Accessing immunisation information in My Health Record – dates until the 30 June 2021.
• Practice Manager compliance Sessions – dates until the 30 June 2021. - This activity is CPD accredited by AAPM.
• Pharmacy staff compliance sessions – dates until the 30 June 2021.
• Data quality – dates until the 30 June 2021. - This activity is CPD accredited by RACGP and AAPM.
• My Health Record for Allied Health Professionals in Aged Care – 19 May 2021.
• Nurse DIGEST 2021 Series Session 5: Utilising Digital Health Tools in Telehealth. – 3 June 2021.

For further enquiries regarding these webinars, contact the Australian Digital Health Agency at help@digitalhealth.gov.au

This year, both the flu vaccine and COVID-19 vaccines are available and it is important that people speak to their vaccination provider to manage the timing of both vaccines.

It is recommended that the flu vaccine and COVID-19 vaccine should be administered at least 14 days apart.

NQPHN Chief Executive Officer Robin Whyte said it is important that residents don’t get complacent when it comes to getting vaccinated against the flu each year.

“During much of the flu season last year, we were all protecting ourselves against COVID-19 by staying home, socially distancing where possible, and practising increased hygiene and handwashing,” Ms Whyte said.

“These behaviours helped to stop the spread of not only COVID-19, but also flu viruses in the community, with an 88.8 per cent decrease in lab confirmed influenza cases in the NQPHN region in 2020, compared with the previous year.

“This flu season, social distancing restrictions are being relaxed, which may allow flu viruses to recirculate, even if they were hardly seen in 2020.

“Flu is a highly contagious viral infection and vaccination is our best protection against it, so it’s important to not lose sight of making sure we all get our flu jab each year.

“Residents should contact their immunisation provider to make a booking to get their vaccination.”

The 2021 flu vaccine is available from GPs, community health clinics, Aboriginal Medical Services, pharmacies, and other immunisation providers in North Queensland.

Under the National Immunisation Program, free flu vaccines are provided to groups who are at higher risk of complications from flu such as children aged six months to less than five years, all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged six months and over, people with certain medical conditions that increase their chance of severe influenza and its complications, pregnant women, and people aged 65 years and over.

Sydney Street Medical General Practitioner Dr Shuren Taylor said that it’s important for people to get their flu jab each year, but this year the timing of their vaccination needs to be managed alongside the rollout of COVID-19 vaccines.

“Influenza viruses can evolve and mutate, allowing new strains to emerge each year, against which people may not have immunity,” said Dr Taylor.

“This is why it is so important that people get their flu shot every year.

“Getting vaccinated against the flu not only prevents themselves from getting ill, but also helps to limit the spread of the virus to others and protects vulnerable people who cannot get vaccinated, such as infants and people with weakened immune systems.

“Receiving the vaccine from April allows protection from the flu to develop well ahead of the peak transmission period, which usually falls around July and August.

“When you book in for your flu vaccination, remember to tell your vaccination provider or clinic if you have received the COVID-19 vaccine, and when you received it.

“This will help them to plan your appointment, as the influenza vaccine and COVID-19 vaccine should be administered at least 14 days apart.

“Both the flu virus and the virus that causes COVID-19 are circulating this year, and even though they can have similar symptoms, it’s important to be vaccinated against both viruses.

“Remember to always stay at home if you have any symptoms at all and get tested.”

To locate a vaccination provider in your area you can search the National Health Services Directory.

Residents can also use the COVID-19 Eligibility Checker to find out if they are eligible to get the COVID-19 vaccine.