DOCTORS fed up with the anti-vaccine movement are trying to dispel myths surrounding immunisation ahead of the upcoming flu season, which looms as the worst in several years.
Supplies of the vaccine have been delayed because authorities changed two of the three strains contained in the formula to safeguard the nation against the deadly H3N2 virus.
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The strain has killed more than 320 people in Hong Kong since the start of the year and struck in epidemic proportions in the US.
“With H3N2, we know when that comes, we tend to see more deaths and hospital admissions,” Influenza Specialist Group director Paul Van Buynder said.
“It particularly affects the elderly, you’ll see more outbreaks in nursing homes. People don’t understand how nasty influenza is as a disease. It can kill vulnerable people.”
The delay in the vaccine, which still needs to be manufactured, means the national immunisation program would be pushed back to April 20.
It is likely to be available to private clinics earlier.
Medical agencies say they are not overly concerned about the delay because the peak flu season is traditionally between July and September.
But disease specialists are urging people to get vaccinated as soon as it becomes available, saying the northern hemisphere outbreak suggested Australia was in for a bad season.
They said myths peddled by anti-immunisation groups, including the belief that vaccines contained live viruses, often deterred people.
“People feel that the vaccine gives you the flu – that’s absolutely nonsense,” Dr Van Buynder said.
Flu vaccine delay 1:47
People could be at risk from deadly strains of flu this winter due to a delay in Australia’s flu vaccination program
- TEN
- 06 Mar 2015
- News
Queensland Health Communicable Disease Unit senior director Sonya Bennett said it was an inactivated vaccine.
“Like any vaccine, you can get minor side-effects but it’s not going to give you the flu,” she said.
“It’s a serious disease – we’re not just talking about a head cold or a sniffle. We’re talking about people feeling very unwell for five days, people being bed-bound.”
Dr Bennett said people at risk of infection such as the elderly, young children, people with low immunity, travellers, homeless people and service workers who were exposed to large crowds were particularly susceptible to influenza.
Flu jabs will be available at 230 chemists across Queensland following the extension of the Pharmacists Immunisation Pilot.
Pharmaceutical Society Australia’s Queensland Prof Lisa Nissen said the trial had proven successful in reaching people who had previously ignored vaccinations.
Originally published as Docs want first jab before state goes viral