Get your jab in first to beat the flu

South Australians are being encouraged to get an early jab in against the flu this winter.

Launching the winter immunisation campaign at the Royal Adelaide Hospital, Health Minister John Hill said the new TV ads, featuring a slow-motion sneeze, should attract attention.

"The ads have a high ‘yuck’ factor, but we want people to understand that the influenza virus is mainly spread by droplets in the air, which come from coughs and sneezes." Minister Hill said.

"Although most people recover from flu within a week, for some it can lead to serious complications and can even be fatal.

"Every year in Australia there are around 300,000 GP consultations, 18,000 hospital admissions and 2,500 deaths from influenza."

"The best way to protect yourself – and those around you – is by being vaccinated. The seasonal strain of flu changes every year, so a new vaccine is developed every year too."

SA Health figures show that more than 265,000 people were immunised against the flu last year, a record for the state, and there were 486 cases of laboratory confirmed influenza.

"A shot won’t stop you from getting seasonal coughs and colds, but it will reduce your chances of getting flu, which is particularly debilitating and unpleasant," Minister Hill said.

SA Health recommends vaccinations for people in the following at-risk groups:

• People over 65 years of age
• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people over 50 years of age and those 15–49 years of age with chronic illnesses 
• People with chronic diseases especially heart disease, lung disease, kidney disease and diabetes 
• People receiving treatment that suppresses the immune system (such as chemotherapy or radiotherapy) 
• People with immune deficiencies, including HIV 
• People in nursing homes and other long-term care facilities 
• Household members living with people in the above high risk groups 
• Health care workers who are in direct contact with patients

Flu vaccine is free for people over 65 years of age and Indigenous Australian people over 50 years. For everyone else, getting a shot at a GP’s surgery should cost around $20–$30.

(Source: Australian Healthcare & Hospitals Association: April 2009)