This year's flu vaccine has arrived. We're stocking the stronger quadrivalent vaccine which protects against the following strains:
A (H1N1): an A/Michigan/45/2015 (H1N1)pdm09 like virus
A (H3N2): an A/Singapore/INFIMH-16-0019/2016 (H3N2) like virus
B: a B/Phuket/3073/2013 like virus
B: a B/Brisbane/60/2008 like virus.
We also have the higher immunogenicity trivalent vaccien recommended for the over 65s.
Our immunity wanes within a year of having the vaccine and also the strains change and so it is therefore important to be vaccinated each year.
The following groups of patients are eligible for a free vaccine (appointment fees still apply) as they are at particular risk from the flu:
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children aged between six months and five years, and 15 years and older.
people aged six months or over who have medical conditions (such as asthma, diabetes, heart disease) that mean they have a higher risk of getting serious disease
pregnant women at any stage of pregnancy
people aged 65 years or over