Flu season 2016
2nd Jun 2016
THE 2016 INFLUENZA SEASON
The 2016 Influenza vaccine(s) are now available at Church Street Medical Centre; you can make an appointment directly with the practice nurse.
Did you know....
* Influenza virus strains can change from year to year and this is why it is important to have yearly Influenza vaccination.
* Influenza is potentially a fatal disease that is estimated to cause more deaths than accidents on roads: 1500 - 3500 Influenza deaths annually.
* In 2015, there were 100,566 Australian cases of laboratory confirmed Influenza infections, and it is estimated that these laboratory confirmed cases only represent the tip of the iceberg.
* In 2015, children aged less than 15 years accounted for one third of all Influenza notifications. The rate of children hospitalised with laboratory confirmed influenza who had to be admitted directly to Intensive Care Unit was 9%.
*New research suggests the Influenza vaccine could be protective against heart attacks and cardiovascular disease which is the leading cause of death globally , including Australia.
* Influenza vaccination is strongly recommended for all pregnant women for these reasons:
- It protects the woman during pregnancy and in the early period of motherhood
- It protects the young infant by transplacental antibodies
- It protects the young infant by antibodies in breast milk.
* Free influenza vaccine is available for people in the following risk groups:
- Adults age 65 and older - Indigenous Australians age 6 months to <5years and age over 15 years
- All pregnant women
- People age 6 months and over with medical conditions that can lead to complications from Influenza (such as severe asthma, lung or heart disease, chronic neurological disease, renal and metabolic disease, and impaired immunity)