It’s that time of year again, the days are getting shorter and the weather’s getting colder; and with it the rolling out of the new flu vaccine.
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Dr Michele Hogg from Gloucester MediCo Centre said there have been a couple of changes to who is eligible for a free vaccine this year.
Whether your shot is free or not, here are a few things you should know. For children, all flu vaccines are age-specific, so it’s important to let your doctor know the age of your child before they get their flu vaccine.
If your child is aged six months to less than nine years and has never had the flu vaccine before, it’s recommend they have two doses in the first year they receive the vaccine, at least four weeks apart. After that only one flu vaccine dose is needed each year.
To get your child vaccinated you’ll need to contact the medical centre for an appointment. Anyone not eligible for the free vaccine will be given a prescription. Once you have filled the script, a nurse at the medical centre will be able to deliver the shot. Storage of vaccines is very important, so you should take the vaccine immediately from the pharmacy to the medical centre. (Alternatively, adults over 18 who are not eligible for the free vaccines may choose to source their vaccine directly from the pharmacy, who will charge a fee for this service).
So who is covered by the National Immunisation Program (NIP) for flu (influenza) vaccines:
- anyone six months and over with medical risk factors
- children six months to less than 5 years
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples 15 years and over
- anyone 65 years and over
- pregnant women during any trimester of pregnancy
Vaccines for those covered by NIP are available through the medical centre. Vaccine only consultations are bulk billed. However, if the doctor determines you are due for a check up as well, billing will be at the doctor's discretion.
“We never know how effective the flu vaccine will be,” Dr Hogg explained. “It’s always trying to catch up from what has been happening in the other hemisphere, but the virus does mutate.”
“We do recommend people get a flu vaccine,” she said.
In regard to people getting the flu from the vaccine, according to Dr Hogg, what’s injected is a ‘dead virus’ which won’t get you sick; however you may have a slight headache, a sore arm or feel a little off.
Influenza (or ‘flu’) is caused by a virus that can infect your nose, throat and sometimes lungs. It spreads easily from person to person through coughing, sneezing and close contact, such as kissing and sharing food and drink.
Flu symptoms can start suddenly like fever, headache, tiredness and muscle aches. Elderly people might also experience confusion and children might get an upset stomach and muscle aches. Symptoms can last for a week or more. When severe, complications such as pneumonia and worsening of existing medical conditions can lead to hospitalisation and sometimes death.
Information about the flu sourced from the Department of Health ‘The Flu Vaccine’ fact sheet at https://beta.health.gov.au/resources/publications/the-flu-vaccine-information-for-consumers-in-2018-fact-sheet.
Anne Keen
Anne has been a journalist with the ACM (Australia Community Media) since 2016. She primarily works at the Gloucester Advocate but also contributes to the Manning River Times.
Anne has been a journalist with the ACM (Australia Community Media) since 2016. She primarily works at the Gloucester Advocate but also contributes to the Manning River Times.
