3rd Primary Care Infectious Diseases Meeting (PCID)
Immunisation For Health And Life – Hybrid Event
Date: October 25, 2025, Time: 9:00am to 4:00pm (AEDT)
About
The Immunisation Coalition, in collaboration with Inovating, announce the 3rd Primary Care Infectious Diseases meeting on 25 October at the Stamford Plaza, Brisbane.
Theme: If under vaccination is the disease, primary care is the cure
This is a hybrid event and is specifically designed for General Practitioners, Nurse Immuniserers and Pharmacists who are on the front line of vaccinating Australians against infectious diseases.
A proportional number of the 100 seats are reserved for GPs, Nurses and Pharmacists.
The program features:
• Keynote presentations
• Workshops
• Panel discussions
Welcome and Introduction
From the Chair
Dr Rodney Pearce AM
Speaker: Dr Rodney Pearce AM
Dr Rodney Pearce AM is a country and city GP and Medical Officer of Health for the Eastern Health Authority (HA), Adelaide. Dr Pearce became a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) on Australia Day 2012. He received the award for his long-standing service to medicine as a General Practitioner, through contributions to national medical organisations and to education.
Session 1
Review of vaccination coverage rates in risk populations
Prof Paul Griffin
Paul is an accomplished clinical trial investigator, having fulfilled the role of Principal Investigator in over 150 clinical trials, particularly in Infectious Diseases including 8 COVID-19 vaccines.
Despite an already demanding role at the Mater, Paul continues as a member of the AMA Queensland Council 2023-2024, and as board member and scientific advisory board member of the Immunisation Coalition, with active interest in vaccine education and advocacy, becoming a trusted media authority and spokesperson across the nation during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Understanding challenges and key barriers of vaccinating: where to focus and prioritise time and resources
Ali Maggs
Ali Maggs has been a Practice Nurse for nearly 20 years and a qualified Nurse Immuniser for over 13. During this time, she has delivered vaccines to young and old, in clinics, schools, libraries, town halls and even car parks. For the past four years she has been working for the Benchmarque Group and is the current Learning and Development Manager, holding the Immunisation portfolio. During this time, she has trained over 1000 students to become authorised immunisers, spoken at conferences, seminars and workshops.
Ali has held other various nursing positions including Occupational Health and Safety nursing, Public Health, Rehabilitation and a former Clinical Advisor for Southern Cross University.
Summary of the 2025-30 National Immunisation Strategy: how will the implementation plan lift vaccination rates?
David Laffan
David is the Assistant Secretary, Immunisation Access and Engagement Branch, Department of Health, Disability and Ageing. He has almost 20 years’ experience as a senior public servant in policy, program and regulatory roles. As Assistant Secretary for Immunisation he has responsibility for the National Immunisation Strategy and its Implementation, the Essential Vaccines Schedule, Immunisation Programs for Priority Populations and is the Senior Data Steward for the Australian Immunisation Register.
Session 2
Seasonal and age dependent disease: practical approaches to lifting vaccination rates in adults 65 yrs and older
Anna Theophilos
Anna Theophilos is a Melbourne-based community pharmacist, pharmacy owner, and passionate advocate for equitable access to vaccination. With 17 years’ experience as a pharmacy owner, Anna has dedicated her career to building practical, scalable solutions that improve health outcomes for some of Australia’s most vulnerable populations.
Her passion for vaccination access was ignited after confronting national data showing alarmingly low coverage rates among Australians aged 65+, particularly those in residential aged care or living with specific care needs. “I was horrified by the gap,” Anna recalls, “and realised something needed to change – urgently.” Determined to close this gap, Anna developed innovative models for delivering pharmacist-led vaccination programs in aged care facilities, ensuring residents could access life-saving vaccines without the logistical and administrative barriers that too often stand in the way. Her programs have been recognised for their ability to simplify processes for facilities, improve compliance, and achieve outstanding uptake rates.
As a member of the TerryWhite Chemmart Advisory Group, Anna works at a national level to shape strategies that strengthen community pharmacy’s role in preventive health. She collaborates closely with government, industry partners, and professional bodies to drive policy and operational changes that make vaccination more accessible to older Australians and those with complex care needs.
In 2025, Anna was appointed the inaugural PSA National Vaccination Ambassador – a role that allows her to amplify the profession’s voice, champion evidence-based immunisation, and inspire pharmacists nationwide to lead the way in protecting public health.
Workshop 1
Session 3
Pertussis and HPV: practical approaches to lifting vaccination rates in adolescence
Catherine Keil
MN(NP) RN BSc(Hons) Dip TM(RCPSG) CTH(ISTM) FACTM
Catherine Keil is an Australian/British Nurse Practitioner specialising in travel health and immunisations. She completed a BSc Honours degree in Geography in 1995 from the University of Newcastle-Upon-Tyne, UK, with an interest in Medical Geography. She went on to complete a Nursing Diploma in 1998 from Kingston University/St George’s Medical School, London, UK, which involved an exchange program to Uganda.
After travelling and working in Africa, South East Asia and Central America, she became a practice nurse based in London. She specialised in travel health, which led her to work for Emirates Airline in Dubai for ten years, where she was instrumental in setting up a travel health clinic for the crew and families. In 2006, she completed the Diploma in Travel Medicine from the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons, Glasgow, UK, and in 2014 completed the ISTM Certificate in Travel Health. After moving to Australia, she completed a Masters in Nursing (Nurse Practitioner) from Flinders University, Adelaide, in 2017 and now works as an Endorsed Nurse Practitioner in Travel Health and Immunisations. She is a Fellow of the Faculty of Travel Medicine (FFTM), Australasian College of Tropical Medicine, immediate past chair of the International Society of Travel Medicine (ISTM) Nursing Professional Group Steering Council and previous chair of the Travel Health Nurses of Australia and New Zealand group.
Workshop 2
Session 4
Immunocompromised individuals: missing link or finding Nemo?
Dr Daman Langguth
Dr Daman Langguth is Director of Immunology at Sullivan Nicolaides Pathology and past VMO at the Wesley Hospital in Brisbane. He is an adviser to industry and government as well as special societies on vaccination in the immunosuppressed as well as clinical advisor to associated patient support groups. He is honorary treasurer for the Australian and New Zealand Vasculitis Society as well as being member and/or chair of various federal government committees involved in healthcare in general. He remains a passionate advocate of pathology and vaccination in real life as well as online. His research is in ANCA vasculitis and plastic contamination of water.
Workshop 3
AIR and Practice Software: a mechanics view of what needs fixing
Panel DiscussionDavid Laffan is the Assistant Secretary, Immunisation Access and Engagement Branch, Department of Health, Disability and Ageing. He has almost 20 years’ experience as a senior public servant in policy, program and regulatory roles. As Assistant Secretary for Immunisation he has responsibility for the National Immunisation Strategy and its Implementation, the Essential Vaccines Schedule, Immunisation Programs for Priority Populations and is the Senior Data Steward for the Australian Immunisation Register.
Dr Sarah Chu graduated from the University of Queensland in 2004 with a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery. She is a member of the International Society of Travel Medicine and has a Certificate in Travel Health; she enjoyed providing travel medicine services at The Travel Doctor TMVC Brisbane before COVID-19 and is an accredited Yellow Fever doctor. In addition to being awarded a Fellowship from the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners, she is a Fellow of The Australasian College of Tropical Medicine, Fellow of The Australasian College of Tropical Medicine (Faculty of Travel Medicine), Associate Member of the Faculty of Travel Medicine Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow; Dr Chu also holds a Diploma in Dermatology from the Australian Institute of Dermatology, and a Diploma in Child Health from Westmead Children’s Hospital and the University of Sydney. She enjoys practising yoga and is a registered level 1 yoga teacher with Yoga Australia. Dr Chu recently completed Physician Board Certification in Lifestyle Medicine with the International Board of Lifestyle Medicine. She is a Senior Lecturer for the University of Queensland and enjoys teaching the next generation of doctors-in-training.
Anna Theophilos is a Melbourne-based community pharmacist, pharmacy owner, and passionate advocate for equitable access to vaccination. With 17 years’ experience as a pharmacy owner, Anna has dedicated her career to building practical, scalable solutions that improve health outcomes for some of Australia’s most vulnerable populations.
Her passion for vaccination access was ignited after confronting national data showing alarmingly low coverage rates among Australians aged 65+, particularly those in residential aged care or living with specific care needs. “I was horrified by the gap,” Anna recalls, “and realised something needed to change – urgently.” Determined to close this gap, Anna developed innovative models for delivering pharmacist-led vaccination programs in aged care facilities, ensuring residents could access life-saving vaccines without the logistical and administrative barriers that too often stand in the way. Her programs have been recognised for their ability to simplify processes for facilities, improve compliance, and achieve outstanding uptake rates.
As a member of the TerryWhite Chemmart Advisory Group, Anna works at a national level to shape strategies that strengthen community pharmacy’s role in preventive health. She collaborates closely with government, industry partners, and professional bodies to drive policy and operational changes that make vaccination more accessible to older Australians and those with complex care needs.
In 2025, Anna was appointed the inaugural PSA National Vaccination Ambassador – a role that allows her to amplify the profession’s voice, champion evidence-based immunisation, and inspire pharmacists nationwide to lead the way in protecting public health.
Tracy Ivey is a Registered Nurse with over 25 years of experience in healthcare. After graduating from James Cook University in Townsville in 2020, Tracy began her career in hospital-based nursing before transitioning to general practice, where she has worked for the past 18 years. She completed the ACU Nurse Immuniser course in 2017 and is passionate about improving immunisation rates across all age groups.
Closing Comments
From the Chair
Dr Rodney Pearce AMSpeaker: Dr Rodney Pearce AM
Dr Rodney Pearce AM is a country and city GP and Medical Officer of Health for the Eastern Health Authority (HA), Adelaide. Dr Pearce became a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) on Australia Day 2012. He received the award for his long-standing service to medicine as a General Practitioner, through contributions to national medical organisations and to education.
Sponsors
