Flu Shots on the way ahead of season

AUSTRALIANS are being urged to “take advantage” of the flu shot as soon as April to protect against the potentially deadly virus.
Influenza is estimated to be responsible for more than 5000 hospitalisations and almost 170 deaths in Australia each year.

The most common groups affected include young children, and older adults.

TWO new deadly strains of influenza will be included in this year’s flu vaccine.

The four influenza vaccines will cover two A strains of influenza (Michigan and Hong Kong) and two B strains of influenza (Brisbane and Phuket), as recommended by the World Health Organization.

The public can access the vaccines from mid-April and is free for older Australians under the National Immunisation Program.

Getting the vaccine in April allows protection from the flu to develop well ahead of the peak season in August.

For more information about influenza and immunisation visit the Immunise Australia website at: www.immunise.health.gov.au