May 2008

Influenza vaccine a potential life saver

Victorians have been urged to join the fight against influenza this winter by protecting themselves with a flu shot.

Joining general practitioners in Airport West to kick-start the flu drive, Chief Health Officer Dr John Carnie advised Victorians to get a flu shot, especially the elderly and those with chronic disease.

‘Last year’s flu season had a huge impact on our public hospital system with more than 1,500 notifications of the virus—making it the worst season in seven years.

‘Last winter, the onset of the flu season was unusually late with notifications spiking in August and September.

‘Of the 1,591 cases notified during 2007, 1,206 were in August and September.

‘It was the worst on record since laboratory confirmed notifications were initiated in 2001.

‘These notifications, late in the season, also had an impact on our public hospital system with hundreds of people presenting to emergency departments.’

Dr Carnie said the vaccine was now available and could be taken up before the onset of winter.

‘While the season began late last year and has been progressively later over the past three years, there is no guarantee the same pattern will be repeated this year.’

Dr Carnie said elderly people and those with underlying chronic conditions would benefit most from the seasonal flu shot.

Health and aged care workers were also recommended to take it up.

‘Children and adults with chronic illnesses such as asthma, emphysema, lung diseases, heart disease, diabetes, chronic liver and kidney disease, all residents of nursing homes and other chronic care facilities and people receiving immunosuppressive therapy such as long-term steroids and cancer chemotherapy should be immunised.

‘Parents wanting to have their children vaccinated should discuss this with their GP because, unlike other childhood immunisations, the flu vaccine has to be given every year.

‘Many older Victorians are being protected against influenza and pneumonia.

‘In 2006 (the latest figures available) 81 per cent received the flu vaccine and more than 60 per cent had received the pneumonia vaccine in the past five years.

‘Vaccines have been delivered direct to immunisation providers, such as GPs and nursing homes, so all older Victorians can be protected through on-the-spot vaccinations.

‘More than 500,000 influenza vaccines and 70,000 pneumococcal vaccines have been distributed to immunisation providers this year.

‘Funding has again been provided for public hospital staff providing direct care to patients to receive free influenza vaccine.

‘It is particularly important for these staff to be immunised, firstly for their own protection and to protect the patients in their care.

‘The hospital staff program began in 2000 along with free influenza and pneumococcal pneumonia vaccine to all public hospital inpatients and outpatients with high risk factors such as asthma and chronic respiratory disorders,’ Dr Carnie said.

As well as over-65s, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders aged 50 and over and those between 15 and 49 with health risks are eligible for free flu immunisations.