More on 'at risk' groups
Health care workers are at an increased risk of both getting and spreading influenza so they need to be vaccinated to protect themselves, colleagues, family and those in their care.
And if you are a partner, parent or child of someone who is at risk, you may need to consider vaccination to protect those around you.
Talk to your doctor about a flu vaccination now, because even if you're not at risk, someone you love may be.
- High risk groups
- Why vaccination is so important
- Adverse reactions
- Who should avoid influenza vaccination?
High risk groups
The Australian Immunisation Handbook (9th Ed.) prepared by the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) states that 'the administration of inactivated influenza vaccine to individuals at risk of complications of infection is the single most important measure in preventing or attenuating influenza infection and preventing mortality.'
The Handbook recommends annual influenza vaccination for the following groups:
- All individuals over 65 years of age*
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 50 years and older or aged 15-49 with risk factors*
- Adults and children (above 6 months of age) with:
- Chronic suppurative lung disease, including bronchiectasis, cystic fibrosis and chronic emphysema
- Chronic (long-term) heart conditions including cyanotic congestive heart disease, coronary heart disease and congestive heart disease
- Chronic illnesses requiring regular medical follow-up or hospitalisation in the preceding year, including diabetes mellitus, chronic metabolic diseases, chronic renal failure, haemoglobinopathies or immunosuppression, severe asthma
- Immune deficiency, including HIV, malignancy and chronic steroid use
- Residents of nursing homes or other long-term facilities and contacts of high risk patients, including health-care providers, staff of nursing homes and long-term care facilities and household members of persons in high-risk groups
- Children aged 6 months to 10 years on long-term aspirin therapy
- Women planning a pregnancy and pregnant women who will be in the second or third trimester during the influenza season, including those in the first trimester at the time of vaccination
* Vaccine is free for all individuals over 65 years. It is also free for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people over 50 years or aged 15-49 with risk factors. For all other people, vaccination is subsidised by the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme and is available by prescription.
Why vaccination is so important
Each year, influenza and its complications cause significant numbers of hospitalisations and deaths. Vaccination is important because it does reduce the risk of:
- Contracting influenza, which itself is a serious debilitating illness
- Exacerbating any underlying medical condition, possibly leading to irreversible deterioration
- Hospitalisations and deaths from pneumonia
- Transmission of the disease to others during outbreaks
- Reye's syndrome developing in children at-risk (i.e. those requiring long-term aspirin therapy)
There are also significant advantages in cost effectiveness of vaccination of 'at risk' people in terms of reduced deaths, hospitalisations and out patient visits.
Adverse reactions
Pain, redness and swelling at the injection site is common (in more than 10 percent of recipients).
Low grade temperature, muscle aches, drowsiness or tiredness may occur (in 1 to 10 per cent of recipients).
A temporary small lump at the injection site.
Some post-vaccination symptoms may mimic influenza infection, but the current influenza vaccine does not contain live virus and cannot cause influenza.
An association was shown with influenza vaccine and Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS) in the northern hemisphere in the 1990's with 1 to 2 cases of GBS per million vaccinated. There has not been an excess number of cases of GBS notified in Australia associated with influenza vaccine.
Immediate adverse events (such as hives, angio-oedema, or systemic anaphylaxis) are a rare consequence of influenza vaccination.
Who should avoid influenza vaccination?
Persons with a history of anaphylaxis after eating eggs or a history of a severe allergic reaction following occupational exposure to egg protein should not be given influenza vaccine.