2017 Influenza

Nobody looks forward to flu season and whilst most who contract influenza will suffer the awful symptoms for a number of days and then swiftly recover, many will die, particularly those who are immune-compromised.

​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.

The flu vaccination is the most important measure available to prevent influenza.

​Make sure you don't get caught out.... book your appointment today!

The Vaccine:

The 2017  influenza vaccine is available from  10th April. 
                      
This year the vaccine is made up of 4 strains:
  • A Michigan
  • A Hong Kong
  • B Brisbane
  • B Phuket 
​
​The Michigan strain is new this year.

​​Government-provided vaccines are all "Quadrivalent" Flu Vaccine i.e. they cover 4 strains of the virus.

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

​​Flu vaccinations can be given to children over 6 months of age.
​
Flu vaccine will not prevent common colds.

Recommended for:

The Influenza vaccination is recommended and free for:
  • All people 65 years and older (free vaccine)
  • All pregnant women
  • Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people 15 years and over
  • Residents in hostels, nursing homes and other residential facilities.
  • Children between 6 months and 10 years on long term aspirin therapy.
  • Adults and children over 6 months of age 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 (malignancy, chemotherapy, HIV etc.)
    • chronic neurological disorders including epilepsy and multiple sclerosis and
    • other chronic illness which increase risk
The vaccine is FREE to all of the above people.  

The influenza vaccine is also recommended for the following groups of people, however, there is no PBS subsidy available for these groups:
  • Anyone wishing to reduce their risk of contracting influenza
  • Anyone who is at risk of transmitting influenza to others (e.g. aged care staff, hospital staff, service providers)​
​These recipients will have to pay for their vaccine, and there is no PBS subsidy for pensioners or card holders who do not fall into the above categories, Our Practice provides the vaccine at a low cost of $14.00. 

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 Celcius

Adverse Reactions:

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.