Feature
Flu vaccine supplies increase to accommodate record uptake
Additional vaccines are set for Australia following a horror start to the flu season.
A new shipment of 400,000 flu vaccines is due for Australia.
Australia has seen more than 51,000 lab-confirmed notifications of influenza so far this year, compared with 58,848 for all of 2018.
The 2019 influenza-related death toll is rising, with aged care residents and young children most at risk.
The Federal Government has announced an additional 400,000 flu vaccines will be brought into Australia over the coming weeks in an attempt to keep up with a record number of people getting the flu vaccination.
‘Already over 12.1 million flu vaccines have been released into the market, including 7.5 million for the National Immunisation Program [NIP] and state and territory vaccination programs, and 4.6 million doses for the private market,’ Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt said.
The new shipment will bring the overall numbers of flu vaccines available in Australia this year to over 12.5 million, up from 11 million in 2018.
People eligible for a free flu vaccine through the NIP include people aged 65 years and over, people aged six months or older with certain medical conditions, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples aged six months and older, and pregnant women.
People experiencing homelessness are also a particularly vulnerable population. ‘Rough sleepers’ can be exposed to the harsh climate of outdoors that may bring an increased risk of influenza.
Reports show that although this population experiences higher rates of physical and mental health issues, they are less likely to seek medical help, including vaccinations.
An Adelaide-based project aims to end street homelessness and works together with local healthcare organisations to provide accessible care for people sleeping on the streets. One of its initiative includes free flu vaccinations, with almost 300 vaccinations administered over the last two years to people experiencing homelessness.
South Australia has been one of the worst hit states in terms of flu-related cases and deaths.
Minister Hunt reinforced the message to support evidence-based public health initiatives such as vaccination, which he described as ‘the most effective way to protect individuals and the broader community from the flu’.
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