Vaccinate to beat ‘flu Influenza vaccine available over next two weeks to beat season

INFLUENZA vaccinations for the most at-risk patients across the Darling Downs will be made available over the next two weeks in an effort to reduce its impact on residents.

Almost 100 cases of laboratory-confirmed influenza notifications have been recorded across the Darling Downs Hospital and Health Service since January, compared to 117 for the same period last year.

Darling Downs Public Health Unit Director Dr Penny Hutchinson has urged residents to get vaccinated against influenza, reminding vaccines for children aged six months to five years are free of charge.

“Influenza is a serious and potentially life-threatening disease,” Dr Hutchinson said.

“It is also highly contagious. The best protection against influenza is influenza vaccination and it is recommended that everyone receive an influenza vaccination to protect not just themselves, but their family and friends.”

The DDHHS recorded 5235 cases between January and October last year, with those viruses of a similar severity to previous years.

The most at-risk residents are those aged 65 years and over, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander residents older than 15, pregnant women, and children aged six months to five years.

Babies six months and older with medical conditions such as severe asthma, lung or heart disease, low immunity or diabetes, are also at more risk.

“For these groups, influenza vaccine is funded and supplies of funded influenza vaccine will be available in GP surgeries over the next two weeks,” Dr Hutchinson said.

“There are two new influenza vaccines for people aged 65 years and over. These vaccines have been specifically designed to improve the immune response to influenza for this age group and provide greater protection.”

Influenza, or flu, is a viral infection that affects the upper airways and lungs, and is easily spread through sneezing and coughing.