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Settlement Guide: 5 flu shot facts to know

The national influenza vaccination program rolls out in April. Here’s 5 facts to know.

flu shot
Source: Press Association

1 min read

Published

Updated

By Pamela Cook

Source: Immunise Australia Program

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1. Each year in Australia the flu causes an average of 13,500 hospitalisations and over 3,000 deaths.

emergency
Signage around St Vincent's Hospital in Darlinghurst, Sydney, Tuesday, May 22, 2012. (AAP Image/Dean Lewins) NO ARCHIVING Source: AAP

2. The flu shot is safe for all Australians, including pregnant women at all stages of their pregnancy.

The vaccine is tested before being approved by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA).

vaccination
Health care worker Sue King gives a flu vaccination injection to fellow worker Vanessa Whatmough at the Royal Children's Hospital in Melbourne (AAP Image/David Source: AAP

3. Each year the flu vaccine is changed to protect against recent flu strains.

testing
Science/medical lab generic stock images. Tuesday, May 14, 2013. (AAP Image/David Crosling) NO ARCHIVING Source: AAP

 

4. Flu shots are free for people at highest risk.

These include:

  • people aged 65 years and over;
  • Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 6 months to 5 years and aged 15 years and over;
  • pregnant women; and
  • people with a listed chronic disease
elder
File photo dated 05/12/08 of the hands of an elderly woman. John Stillwell/PA Wire Source: Press Association

5. The 2016 flu shot is available in April from GPs and other immunisation providers.

vaccination
Source: AAP