Free vaccines to fight influenza for those most at risk

The Department of Health is urging all Western Australians to get vaccinated against sometimes deadly influenza, including human swine flu.

Communicable Disease Control Director Dr Paul Armstrong said this was particularly important for those at high risk of developing severe disease – young children, Indigenous people, pregnant women, the very overweight, and people with chronic medical conditions.

All WA children under the age of five will be offered a free vaccine as part of the State-based initiative to fight the illness.

Dr Armstrong said the increased eligibility for the free vaccine would strengthen the community's defence in the coming influenza season.

"WA is leading the nation with its paediatric influenza program which will help ensure our young children are protected from this serious illness," he said.

"Last year in Western Australia 139 children under five years of age were hospitalised with influenza. The Department of Health has secured sufficient vaccine to make sure every child aged over six months and under five years in the State can be protected.

"In addition, the eligibility list for the free vaccine funded each year by the Commonwealth will include more vulnerable groups than previous years. Along with the elderly, pregnant women, Indigenous Australians aged 15 and over, people with underlying medical conditions, such as heart disease and chronic respiratory conditions, will also be eligible."

Dr Armstrong said this year's seasonal influenza vaccine would protect against the human swine flu strain which emerged last year, as well as two other strains of the virus which were expected to circulate in the community in the winter months.

Local GP and Osborne GP Network Chair Professor Alistair Vickery said general practice had an essential and frontline role in containing the spread of this disease as many people would present to their GP when they were first feeling unwell.

"Getting vaccinated will help protect you from illness and potentially save lives," he said.

"It will also help to prevent the spread of influenza in the whole community and reduce hospitalisation rates."

Dr Armstrong said children who had received two doses of influenza vaccinations previously would only require a single dose to be protected this year.

Those children who have not received an influenza vaccine or have only previously had one dose will require two doses one month apart.

The free flu vaccinations are available from GPs or local immunisation clinics.

The free PANVAX H1N1 vaccine, which protects against human swine flu, is also available through GPs for people of all ages, including school aged children.

Each year about 10 per cent of the Western Australian population catch influenza and more than 200 people die from complications such as pneumonia. In 2009, WA had 27 deaths following laboratory confirmed cases of human swine flu.

Dr Armstrong said some providers may charge a fee to administer the free vaccine and advised people to discuss this with their doctors' or immunisation clinic when making an appointment.

(Source: Government of Western Australia Department of Health: March 2010)