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10 Year Anniversary Showcase

In June 2017 Paediatric Active Enhanced Disease Surveillance (PAEDS) investigators, nurses and key stakeholders came together in Melbourne to discuss and present their work of 10 years in an anniversary showcase. PAEDS, originally founded through a collaboration between the Australian Paediatric Surveillance Unit (APSU) and NCIRS has grown to surveillance at 7 sites across Australia, focusing on vaccine preventable diseases and serious childhood conditions of public health importance: Acute Flaccid Paralysis, intussusception, pertussis, varicella, febrile seizures, encephalitis, influenza and most recently meningococcal disease and group A streptococcal disease. Progress and outcomes from research into these conditions was presented at the showcase. PAEDS warmly welcomed Karina Top from IMPACT as a guest at the 10 year anniversary showcase. Karina shared the challenges and successes of IMPACT from 25 years of surveillance of vaccine preventable diseases and adverse events following immunisation. This was a wonderful opportunity for PAEDS to learn from our Canadian colleagues’ experiences and an honour to have Karina as our guest. View the latest IMPACT newsletter

PAEDS also celebrated Dr Philip Britton’s PhD award for investigation of acute childhood encephalitis, as well as a recently achieved NHMRC partnership grant that will support additional research into understanding why children become unwell with influenza and pertussis. Congratulations to PAEDS on 10 years and many wonderful achievements yet to come.