2019 Flu Season:
Government funded stock expected late April 2019

Flu season is rapidly approaching. Most people who contract influenza will suffer symptoms for several days before recovering. However, many people, especially those with chronic health conditions and the elderly, will be hospitalised with serious complications and some will die.

Annual vaccination against the influenza virus is the most effective measure to prevent influenza and its complications.

The 2018 “flu season” was mild as a result nationwide changes have been made to the immunisation program.

Annual influenza immunisation is now recommended for everyone ≥6 months of age, with the exception of those with medical contraindications.

Quadrivalent influenza vaccines are recommended for people <65 years of age.

The Vaccine:

The 2019 quadrivalent influenza vaccine will cover:

• Influenza A (H1N1) Michigan
• Influenza A (H3N2) Switzerland
• Influenza B Colorado
• Influenza B Phuket

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​New higher-immunogenicity trivalent influenza vaccines are now recommended for adults ≥65 years of age.  These vaccines will provide increased protection against the H3N2 strain of the Influenza A virus which causes severe illness in the elderly.

The new higher-immunogenicity trivalent vaccine will cover:

• Influenza A (H1N1) Michigan
• Influenza A (H3N2)  Switzerland
• Influenza B Phuket

 
Influenza B Colorado is not covered in the “super-charged” trivalent vaccines. However, it is predicted that the additional cover against the Influenza A H3N2 strain will compensate for this.

Government funded, free influenza vaccines are available for:

• ​All people ≥ 65 years of age
• All pregnant women
• All Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders from ≥ 6 months of age
• Residents in residential care facilities
• Children between 6 months  and 10 years of age on long term aspirin therapy
• Children ≥ 6 months of age, and adults, with a chronic illness such as:
  • Heart disease
  • Renal or metabolic disease (diabetes, blood disorders, kidney failure etc.)
  • Respiratory illness such as asthma, emphysema and other lung diseases
  • Immuno-suppressed people (e.g. malignancy, chemotherapy, HIV etc.)
  • Chronic neurological disorders including epilepsy and multiple sclerosis
  • Other chronic illness which increase risk

FREE flu vaccination for children aged 6 months to under 5 yrs is now available at both surgeries.

​The vaccine will cost $13.00 for those not eligible for the government funded vaccine (as outlined above). Consultations will be bulk billed if you book into the designated Flu Clinic, available at both surgeries.

Influenza vaccine should not be given where the person:

• Is allergic to eggs, feathers or neomycin
• Is allergic to previous influenza vaccine
• Has a history of Guillain-Barre Syndrome
• Has a fever over 38.5 degrees Celsius

Possible Adverse Reactions:

• ​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 Guillain-Barre Syndrome – an inflammation of nerves which causes variable degrees of usually reversible paralysis
• There is a very small risk of anaphylaxis. It is therefore recommended that patients remain in the waiting room for 15-20 minutes following vaccination