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Why you should get your flu vaccine this year

With all the focus on COVID-19 vaccines in recent months, many people may be wondering if they need to bother with their annual flu vaccine this year.

The short answer is YES! Flu remains a potentially serious disease and it is important to continue to vaccinate against it each and every year.

What is influenza?

Influenza, or the flu, is a highly contagious viral disease that is easily spread through coughing, touching and sneezing. It can often be mistaken for a common cold. However, flu tends to last longer and be more debilitating.

While most people experience symptoms such as fever, headache, sore throat, runny nose, cough, tiredness and general aches and pains, children can experience more uncommon symptoms such as nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea.

Influenza can cause severe illness or death, particularly among high risk groups, including children under five, the elderly, pregnant women, and those with serious medical conditions.

Who should get vaccinated?

Anyone over the age of 6 months is encouraged to get vaccinated annually against influenza.

Those at greatest risk of serious complications from influenza are eligible to receive the vaccine for free, through the Australian Government’s National Immunisation Program (NIP). This includes:

  • Children aged 6 months to <5 years
  • Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
  • Adults aged 65 years and over
  • Pregnant women
  • Anyone aged 6 months and over who has:
    • heart disease
    • severe asthma (requiring frequent medical consultations or use of multiple medications)
    • chronic lung conditions
    • diseases of the nervous system that affect breathing
    • impaired immunity
    • diabetes
    • kidney disease
    • haemoglobinopathies
    • children aged 6 months to 10 years on long-term aspirin therapy

In Western Australia, all primary school aged children from pre-primary to Year 6, are also eligible to receive the influenza vaccine for free.

While social distancing, travel restrictions and good hygiene measures due to the COVID-19 pandemic contributed to a decline in flu cases and deaths last year, the flu vaccine remains key to helping reduce the severity and spread of seasonal influenza this year.

This brochure from the Australian Government Department of Health provides more information on how to protect yourself from influenza in 2021. View brochure here>>

Is the flu vaccine safe for children?

Children under 5 years of age are one of the groups at greatest risk of developing this highly contagious viral disease and experiencing serious health complications as a result.

Flu vaccines are perfectly safe for children. Like any vaccine, it is possible that some children may experience a reaction; however, the risk of the flu vaccine causing serious harm is very low.

In Australia, all vaccines must pass strict safety testing before being approved for use by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA). We also have a national program – AusVaxSafety – that monitors the type and rate of reactions to each year’s new influenza vaccine in young children.

At Illawarra Medical Centre, we utilise the SmartVax system as an additional vaccine safety measure for our patients. SmartVax uses SMS and smartphone technology to actively monitor vaccine safety in real time and feeds into the AusVaxSafety program.

How safe is the vaccine for pregnant women?

The influenza vaccine has been given safely to millions of pregnant women worldwide over many years and pregnant women are strongly recommended to get the influenza vaccine.

Those who do get influenza while pregnant are at higher risk of hospitalization, and even death, than non-pregnant women.

Not only does the vaccine protect pregnant mothers against influenza, it also helps to protect their unborn babies from the disease.

In fact, research shows that the risk of stillbirth is reduced by 51% in pregnant women who are immunised against influenza. The antibodies produced by pregnant mothers from the influenza immunisation can also help to protect their babies for up to 6 months after birth.

Click here for more information on the influenza vaccine in pregnancy>>

Which vaccine should I get first – COVID or flu?

With both COVID-19 and influenza vaccines available at the same time in Australia, it can be difficult to know which vaccine to get first and when.

COVID-19 vaccination remains a priority, so if you meet Phase 1a or 1b eligibility, it is recommended you book in for your COVID-19 vaccine first.

Those in these categories include:

  • Quarantine, border and front line health care workers
  • Frontline health care workers
  • Aged care and disability care staff
  • Aged care and disability care residents
  • Patients aged 70 years and over
  • Health care workers
  • Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders aged 55 years and over
  • Adults with an underlying medical condition or significant disability
  • Critical and high risk workers, including defence, police, fire, emergency services, and meat processing workers.

Check your eligibility for the COVID-19 vaccine here>>

Even if you do get your COVID-19 vaccine first, the flu vaccine can be given in between your two COVID-19 vaccine doses, so long as they are given 14 days apart.

If you are not yet eligible to receive your COVID-19 vaccination, then you should book in for your flu vaccine as soon as it becomes available.

When booking in for your flu vaccination, it’s important to tell your vaccination provider if you have received the COVID-19 vaccine and when, so that they can best plan your appointment.

Flu Clinics at IMC

Illawarra Medical Centre will be running flu vaccination clinics at our practice, as stocks become available. We currently have flu vaccines available for those aged 65 years and over.

Our flu clinics will be held at our adjacent DermCosmesis building and are available Monday to Friday from 9am-12pm and 2-3pm.

Bookings are essential. Visit the website for further details or to make a booking.

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