Flu shots ramped up

Government provides extra doses amid record demand

AN extra 3 million doses of flu vaccine are heading our way after a record uptake.

This means more than 16.5 million doses of flu vaccine will be available for 2020.

As of April 14, 2,088,016 doses had already been given out, compared to 624,392 for the same period last year.

Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt said the additional vaccines would be available through GPs and community pharmacies in April, May and June.

There are a record 8.6 million vaccines available free of charge on the National Immunisation Program (NIP), including more than 4 million doses of Fluad Quad, which is recommended for people aged 65 and over.

“This is enough to provide vaccines for free through the NIP to almost 100 per cent of people aged 65 and over,” Mr Hunt said.

While all eyes have been on COVID-19, influenza poses a significant threat to the elderly and the very young and kills hundreds every year.

There have already been 19,270 confirmed cases of influenza in Australia this year, but numbers have dropped off in March because social distancing measures to combat coronavirus have slowed the spread of flu as well.

Dr Rod Pearce, from the Immunisation Coalition, said flu was a significant cause of vaccine-preventable deaths.

“Outbreaks in nursing homes are a major contributor to deaths in Australia,” he said.

“From May 1 people won’t be able to access nursing homes, they will need proof of vaccination.”

More than 13.8 million vaccines have so far been released by the TGA, with the additional supplies expected to be available over the next six to eight weeks.

While flu vaccination does not prevent COVID-19, it does minimise the burden on hospitalisations.

“Both influenza and coronavirus cause serious respiratory illness,” Mr Hunt said.

“The combination of both diseases could be life-threatening, especially for our vulnerable people.”

Flu vaccines are available at most pharmacies.