Hunter residents urged to roll up sleeves for flu shot and fourth COVID vaccine

BY DAKOTA TAIT

The rollout of a fourth COVID-19 vaccine or second booster has been launched in the Hunter today, ahead of an expected surge in cases in Winter.

People aged 65 or older, Indigenous Australians aged 50 or older, residents in aged or disability care facilities, and immunocompromised individuals are all being urged to roll up their sleeves for another jab.

The second booster is being recommended four months after the first.

It comes amid calls for the public to grab a flu shot too, with concerns around vaccine complacency and an influenza surge also on the cards.

GPs Concerned Older Patients Have Not Received Best Vaccine in Leadup to Flu Season

BY DAKOTA TAIT

The Hunter General Practitioners Association has expressed concern many elderly patients have not received the appropriate influenza vaccine leading up to this year's flu season.

Fluad Quad, a boosted vaccine designed with those aged 65 and older in mind, is accessible at most general practices - but has not been made available to pharmacies or other vaccination providers.

While the standard vaccine will still help them against influenza, Dr Lee Fong says it is essential older and more vulnerable members of the community are able to access the special vaccine.

"It's important that people who are over the age of 65 are aware that there is a specific vaccine that is intended for them, that gives them better protection, and that they should go to their general practice to get it."

Despite social distancing measures and the ongoing COVID-19 infection risk, Dr Fong says eligible patients should not be afraid to get in contact with their general practitioner to receive the vaccination.

"General practices are working very hard to keep people with respiratory illnesses out of the waiting room," said Dr Fong. "The general practice environment, I would suggest, is at least as safe as any other environment, including pharmacies."

But Dr Fong says there is no need for those finding it difficult to access the vaccination to be too concerned at the moment.

"At this point in time, influenza is not circulating in very high levels. We've got a bit of time up our sleeve - still get it done as soon as you can, but don't worry if you can't get it straight away."

Image credit: Hunter General Practitioners Association

Staggering Influenza Spread

BY ALEX MURRAY

This season the Hunter has seen peak flu figures which are more than doubling previous years.

Information from Hunter New England Health have indicated influenza has started earlier in the year with significant increases to 1200 infected in comparison to 400 last year.

These figures also represent a fraction of those infected as most are not medically diagnosed in the region meaning more than ever, prevention steps are crucial.

Hunter New England Health physician, David Durrheim says its never too late for adults to complete their vaccination and steps such as sanitation and hand washing are essential.

"It is at the moment unclear why this has had such dramatic increase but it is clear that individuals with symptoms of the flu: high fever, muscle aches and sore throat should not infect other places of vulnerability"

"It is important for those infected to be sensible members of the community and to stay away from higher risk groups particularly in hospitals, childcare facilities or workplaces, it really is negligent"

"Certainly those in highest risk groups such as elderly, Torres Strait Islanders and those with chronic illnesses should be vaccinated especially, bearing in mind the process could take up to two weeks to be completely protected."

Flu Tracking

BY: ALEXANDRIA MURRAY

Hunter New England health has started a Flu Tracking service to identify where highly contagious influenza activity is impacting the community.


With weekly data from FluTracking.net, researchers are being provided with a better understanding of the influenza vaccines and where areas of flu are breaking the worst.


Since the 400 participants in 2006, there has been tremendous growth to now more than 30,000 people
completing surveys for the Flu Tracking data by registering at flutracking.net.

Hunter spokesperson, Dr Craig Dalton says "the online surveys are an indicator of where flu is hitting the hardest."

"It only takes ten seconds for an individual to complete a survey, they then get a link to an activity map and it essentially helps us track the severity and timing of flu right around the country."

"It helps us to understand how severe the flu is and whether it's worse than last year."

"We're also getting more and more people telling us whether they have had a flu test or not and if that was positive -  the data will help determine whether the flu vaccine is working."

Image Credit: ABC Newcastle