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Why should you get vaccinated against flu?
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Influenza, commonly known as the flu, is caused by a virus which spreads easily from person to person through infected droplets in the air and by hands carrying the virus.
The flu virus infects your nose, throat and sometimes your lungs. It differs from a cold as symptoms such as fever, sore throat and muscle aches develop suddenly and last about a week. In some cases severe illness and complications such as pneumonia and bronchitis can develop resulting in hospitalisation and/or death.
Flu can also make some underlying medical conditions worse.
Because the flu virus is constantly changing, it is necessary to get vaccinated every year.
Each year, the flu vaccine will protect against the three strains of flu virus which are most likely to circulate over the winter period. Vaccination is recommended in autumn to allow time for immunity to develop before the flu season starts. Even if you received a flu vaccination towards the end of the last flu season, you should still be vaccinated again before this flu season.
The flu vaccine does not contain any live virus therefore you cannot get flu from receiving the vaccine.
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People at high risk
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The flu vaccine is available free for the following people at high risk:
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| 65 years and over |
| People aged 65 years and over have the highest risk of complications associated with seasonal flu. |
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| Aboriginal and torres strait islander people |
| All Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People from 15 years of age are eligible for free flu vaccine as respiratory diseases are major causes of preventable sickness and death in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. |
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| Pregnant women |
| The flu vaccine is recommended for pregnant women and can be safely given during any stage of pregnancy. Pregnant women are at higher risk of severe complications associated with the flu virus. Vaccinating against flu during pregnancy also provides protection for the baby during their first vulnerable months of life. |
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| Medically at risk |
| People with some existing medical conditions are at increased risk of complications from flu. These include anyone who is over 6 months of age and has: |
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| heart disease |
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| severe asthma |
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| chronic lung condition |
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| chronic illness requiring medical follow-up or hospitalisation in the past year |
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| diseases of the nervous system |
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| impaired immunity or |
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| diabetes |
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| Children aged 6 months to 10 years and on long-term aspirin therapy are also at risk of complications from flu. |
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Vaccine safety and allergies
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In 2010, one vaccine was shown to be associated with an increase in severe fever in some children less than 5 years of age. That vaccine is not registered for use in 2011 for children less than 5 years of age. Australia has rigorous systems in place to monitor adverse events following vaccination to ensure the ongoing safety of the National Immunisation Program.
Anyone with a severe reaction to eggs should talk to their immunisation provider prior to influenza vaccination.
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Important facts
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Vaccines are available from 15 March from GP surgeries and other immunisation providers (check with your local Council, Community and/or Aboriginal Health Services).
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Approximately 2,800 Australians die every year either directly from the seasonal flu, complications due to the flu, or pneumonia.
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| Flu vaccinations are the single most effective action in helping fight the spread of flu in the community. |
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If you are a person at high risk, talk with your doctor or immunisation provider about getting the free flu vaccine
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Current contact list
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State and Territory contact information
ACT (02) 6205 2300
NSW Contact the local Public Health Units (look under ‘Health’ in the White Pages)
NT (08) 8922 8044
QLD 13 HEALTH (13 43 25 84)
SA (08) 8226 7177
TAS 1800 671 738
VIC 1300 882 008
WA (08) 9321 1312
http://www.immunise.health.gov.au/
All information in this publication is correct as of February 2011
Get The Flu Shot Before The Flu Gets You : Brochure(PDF 416KB) |
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