Vee Vian Higgins is pictured administering a flu vaccination to Teresa Knowles at Parkes Pharmacy. If you want to enquire about a flu vaccination you can contact Parkes Pharmacy (02) 6862 2411 or parkes@lifepharmacygroup.com.au
Influenza cases are rising fast across Australia with many cases already confirmed across the country, a jump of more than 50 per cent from this time last year.
It’s a timely reminder for families and vulnerable members of the community to speak with healthcare providers about vaccination.
The best time to get vaccinated is from now, peak flu season is from June to September, so we want as many people as possible protected and vaccinated against influenza before that peak season hits to take pressure off our doctors and hospitals.
Quite often long weekends and school holidays are a time for family gatherings, you might be seeing the older relatives in your family, or those with babies, and we want to protect those individuals. It takes two weeks to get full protection from the vaccine so now is the opportune time.
The flu vaccine is recommended for all Australians over six months of age with modelling suggesting influenza cases may be higher than reported.
Those who are at more risk of serious illness and hospitalisation have access to free flu vaccinations under the National Immunisation Program (NIP). Little ones under five years, adults who are 65 and over, those people with chronic medical conditions that put them at risk of having more severe disease, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and pregnant women are the ones we really want to protect with vaccinations, so the government has a free vaccine for them to get that protection.
Patients who would like the flu vaccination are encouraged to speak with either their local pharmacist, or GP, to determine which vaccine is suitable and who qualifies for the NIP. For more information on the National Immunisation Program (NIP) you are encouraged to visit: www.health.gov.au/topics/immunisation/vaccines/influenza-flu-vaccine