ST AGNES SURGERY

INFLUENZA VACCINE

Influenza is a very contagious, distinct illness caused by a specific virus – it is not a "bad cold". The most common complication of "flu" is pneumonia complications are most likely in people with other illnesses or who are elderly.

Flu vaccination is the most important measure available to prevent influenza.

The NHMRC recommends influenza vaccine for :

· all people aged 65 years and over (free vaccine)

· Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people 15 years and over

· residents in hostels, nursing homes and other residential facilities

· adults and children over 6 months of age with a chronic illness such as diabetes, heart disease, blood or kidney disorders, asthma and other lung diseases, immuno-suppressed people, chronic neurological disorders including epilepsy and multiple sclerosis and other chronic illness which increase risk.

· children aged between 6 months and 10 years on long term aspirin therapy

· all pregnant women

· people with HIV or other causes of reduced immunity

The vaccine is FREE for all people in the above categories from 2010.

- Anyone else wishing to reduce their risk of contracting influenza, or who are at risk of transmitting it to others (e.g. aged care or hospital staff) should also be vaccinated. (There is no PBS subsidy available for this group)

Influenza vaccine SHOULD NOT be given where the person is :

• allergic to eggs, feathers, or neomycin
• allergic to previous influenza vaccine
• has a history of Guillane- Barre Syndrome.
• has a fever over 38.5 degrees C

COMPLICATIONS are rare :

• up to 10% of people may feel a bit off colour and have local redness and soreness at the injection site
• very rarely ( possibly 1 in a million vaccinations) vaccination may be associated with Guillane-Barre Syndrome – an inflammation of nerves which causes variable degrees of usually reversible paralysis.

Influenza Vaccine is NOT a live virus – you cannot get the flu from the injection.

Flu vaccine will not prevent common colds.

Serious side effects are very rare