2019 Flu Vaccine

Influenza Vaccination Season 2019

Annual influenza vaccination continues to be the most important measure available to prevent the spread of influenza and minimise the risk of associated complications.

This year there is a new A strain (H3N2) and a new strain for the B Victoria linage.  Influenza virus strains included in the 2019 seasonal influenza vaccines are:

• A (H1N1): an A/Michigan/45/2015 (H1N1)pdm09 like virus
• A (H3N2): an A/Switzerland/8060/2017 (H3N2) like virus
• B: a B/Colorado/06/2017 like virus (not included in the trivalent vaccine) 
• B: a B/Phuket/3073/2013 like virus

Patients over 65years are offered a Trivalent vaccination – Fluad. Fluad is designed for peopled aged 65 years and older and is formulated with the adjuvant MF59. An adjuvant is an ingredient added to a vaccine that helps create a stronger immune response to vaccination. Fluad contains the following:

• A (H1N1): an A/Michigan/45/2015 (H1N1)pdm09 like virus
• A (H3N2): an A/Switzerland/8060/2017 (H3N2) like virus
• B: a B/Phuket/3073/2013 like virus

The following groups will be eligible for government funded (free) vaccines in 2019:

• People aged 65 years and over
• Pregnant women in all trimesters
• All aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 6 months and older
• people aged 6 months and over with medicals conditions that place them at risk of complications from influenza including cardiac disease, chronic respiratory conditions, chronic neurological disorders, immunocompromising consitions, diabetes, renal disease, blood disorders, and children up to 10years of age on aspirin therapy.
• Children aged 6months to less than 5 years.

The Panaceum Group also have private vaccine stock available for those who not eligible for government funded vaccinations. Private vaccines are available at a cost of $20 per vaccine.

The Panaceum Group will open Influenza vaccine clinics from the week commencing May 27^th 2019. To make a booking with our Practices call:

Panaceum Medical (08) 9920 8111
Panaceum Seacrest (08) 9923 9999
Panaceum Dalwallinu (08) 9661 1203

To book online, go to: https://www.panaceum.com.au/book-online/

DID YOU KNOW?

Influenza (the flu) is a highly contagious disease, usually prevented by vaccination and treated by managing symptoms. Spread by body fluids from infected people, symptoms include a runny nose and sore throat. Flu can affect anyone but is especially serious for babies and older people.

The flu is caused by the influenza virus. There are many different strains and they can change every year.

Symptoms of influenza include runny nose or sneezing, cough or sore throat, fever and chills, headache, body aches, vomiting and diarrhoea (more common in children).

Flu is not the same as a common cold. The flu is a serious disease because it can lead to bronchitis, croup, pneumonia, ear infections, heart and other organ damage, brain inflammation and brain damage and sadly in some cases death.

Symptoms usually start about 1 to 3 days after catching the flu and can last for a week or more. Some people can be mildly affected, while others can become seriously ill.