2010 Influenza Vaccination Program

The influenza vaccine for Australia in 2010 has been announced and it will contain the following strains:

1. Influenza A /California/7/2009 (H1 N1)-like virus (also known as the Swine flu)
2. Influenza A/Perth/16/2009(H3N2)-like virus
3. Influenza B/Brisbane/60/2008-like virus.

The 2010 influenza vaccination helps provide immunity against the H1N1 Influenza virus which was the virus responsible for the ‘Swine flu’ pandemic in 2009. In 2009, thirty percent of people admitted to intensive care units with pandemic (H1N1) 2009 influenza did not have a risk factor for severe disease. To prevent serious illness it is important to receive this vaccination prior to autumn and winter of 2010.

This vaccine will be available from local pharmacists for purchase in the near future. The government for many years has supplied influenza vaccinations to the surgery for vaccination of at-risk individuals. The criteria in previous years to receive this free vaccination have been

• All individuals aged 65 years and over
• All Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 50 years and older

In 2010, there are some important changes for the influenza immunisation program. Under The National Immunisation Program 2010, the influenza vaccine will be available free for the people eligible as in previous years, listed above, and for the following individuals:

• Individuals aged 6 months to 64 years with Medical Risk Factors (these are defined below)
• Pregnant women
• All Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 15-49 years

The ‘Medical at Risk Groups’ are defined in for individuals suffering from

• Cardiac disease
  - cyanotic congenital heart disease
  - coronary artery disease
  - congestive heart failure
• Chronic respiratory conditions
  - suppurative lung disease
  - bronchiectasis
  - cystic fibrosis
  - chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
  - chronic emphysema
  - severe asthma (defined as requiring frequent hospital visits)
• Chronic neurological conditions, such as
  - multiple sclerosis
  - spinal cord injuries
  - seizure disorders
  - or other neuromuscular disorders
• Other chronic illnesses, such as
  - diabetes mellitus
  - chronic metabolic disorders
  - chronic renal failure
  - haemoglobinopathies
  - impaired immunity
• Impaired immunity, including
  - HIV infection
  - malignancy
  -chronic steroid use
• Long term aspirin therapy in children (aged 6 months to 10 years)

Vaccination is also recommended, but is not supplied for free, for anyone who is in contact with people in high risk groups, including:

• anyone who lives in a household with a person who fits into any of the high risk categories
• anyone who works in a nursing home or long term care facility
• health care workers.

The standard dose for all individuals above is a SINGLE dose (0.5ml) of the vaccine. However two doses at least 1 month apart are recommended for children aged ≤ 9 years who are receiving influenza vaccine for the first time. In subsequent years only 1 dose is required each year. If a child has received 1 or 2 doses of Panvax® H1N1 vaccine they still need two doses of seasonal influenza vaccine if it is their first year of receiving a seasonal influenza vaccine.
This information has been obtained from the Queensland Health bulletins, and further information can be accessed from the Queensland Health website at http://access.health.qld.gov.au/hid/index.asp

If you wish to discuss the topic, you may discuss this on my forum page.

Dr David Dowling
version 1.0, created 13 March 2010