Why are you vaccinated with the influenza vaccine? 

The effectiveness of influenza (flu) vaccines has been found to vary between 40-60%. This means that, on average, a vaccinated person is 40-60% less likely to experience the flu leading to a visit to a general practice (GP) or hospital. These figures come from hospital and health services rather than manufacturers. You may think this figure is lower than desirable; however, if these statistics were about heart conditions, you might happily follow the advice. When vaccinated, you are less likely to become infected and, if you do become infected, you are more likely to only have a mild dose of the flu.  

‘Vaccine impact‘ is the reduction of the flu occurring in a population due to the vaccine. Vaccine impact includes indirect protection that you add to others by being vaccinated. As more people are vaccinated, there is less virus circulating in the community and less risk of acquiring infection. ​This is known as ‘herd immunity’. 

What are the consequences of influenza? 

The graph below, from a study that analysed Australian hospital records from 2007 to 2015, highlights the severe consequences of flu – respiratory death and distress causing hospitalisation. While these statistics may seem dated the current pattern of hospitalisations and death are the same today.

Symptoms

Milder symptoms of influenza include:

• Fever
• Dry, chesty cough
• Headache
• Tiredness
• Chills
• Aching muscles
• Limb or joint pain
• Diarrhoea or upset stomach
• Sore throat
• Runny or blocked nose
• Sneezing
• Loss of appetite

Fact: Nine out of 10 people hospitalised with influenza have at least one underlying health condition. Diabetes is considered an underlying health condition.

Fact:  Complicated hospitaliation occurred in 10.6% of influenza-positive patients.  Diabetes was second only to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) as a condition that negatively influences the length and outcome of influenza.

What can you do in addition to vaccination?

Keep your glucose levels in the recommended range as much as possible. High glucose levels impair your body’s immune reaction to viruses. They also increase the likelihood of secondary bacterial infections and will delay your recovery.

Take precautions such as wearing a mask, hand washing, using hand sanitiser and social distancing during peak influenza season.

Who is eligible for a free vaccine this year?

Under the National Immunisation Program (NIP), in all states:

• Pregnant women (at any stage of pregnancy)
• People aged six months and over with certain medical conditions see below*
• Children six months to less than five years
• People aged 65 years and older
• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 6 months and over

*People with certain medical conditions are more likely to have complications and being hospitalised from flu. These medical conditions include:

• Cardiac disease
• Chronic respiratory conditions (including severe asthma)
• Chronic neurological conditions that increase the risk of respiratory infection (including hereditary and degenerative central nervous system diseases and seizure disorders)
• Immunocompromising conditions (including immunocompromised due to disease or treatment)
• Diabetes and other metabolic disorders
• Renal disease
• Haematological disorders (including haemoglobinopathies)
• Children aged six months to 10 years on long term aspirin therapy who are at increased risk of Reye syndrome following influenza infection.

State funded extra eligibility is available in:

• Queensland and Western Australia for all people over the age of six months
• In South Australia there is an influenza program for people experiencing homelessness.

Which vaccines are funded and recommended for my age?

All people > 6 months	All people aged ≥5 years only	Adults ≥60 years only	Adults ≥65 years only
Fluarix Tetra Flucelvax Quad FluQuadri Influvac Tetra Vaxigrip Tetra	Alfuria Quad	Fluzone High-Dose Quadrivalent	Fluad Quad (1)

What else should I know?

Contraindications: The only contraindications to influenza vaccines are:

• Anaphylaxis following a previous dose of any influenza vaccine
• Anaphylaxis following any vaccine component (excluding eggs).

Egg allergy: This is not a contraindication to influenza vaccines. If there is significant parental or health professional concern, the vaccine may be administered in a primary care setting with a longer waiting period of 30 minutes.

Latex allergy: All influenza vaccines available under the NIP in 2024 are latex-free, and people with a latex allergy can safely be vaccinated.

What strains are in this year’s vaccine?

The egg-based trivalent influenza vaccines contain the following three viral strains:

• an A/Victoria/4897/2022 (H1N1)pdm09-like virus
• an A/Thailand/8/2022 (H3N2)-like virus
• a B/Austria/1359417/2021 (B/Victoria lineage)-like virus.

Cell-based trivalent influenza vaccines contain the following three viral strains:

• an A/Wisconsin/67/2022 (H1N1)pdm09-like virus
• an A/Massachusetts/18/2022 (H3N2)-like virus
• a B/Austria/1359417/2021 (B/Victoria lineage)-like virus.

Quadrivalent egg- or cell culture-based or recombinant vaccines contain the following B/Yamagata lineage component:

• a B/Phuket/3073/2013 (B/Yamagata lineage)-like virus. ⁽²⁾

When should I get my vaccination?

Anyone who is planning international travel should have their vaccination before leaving Australia.

While protection is generally expected to last throughout the year, the highest level of protection occurs in the first three to four months after vaccination. The period of peak influenza circulation is typically June to September in most parts of Australia. The warmer the Australian state, the later the peak season.

Vaccination from mid-April onwards will likely result in peak immunity during the influenza season. However, it’s never too late to vaccinate, as influenza can spread all year round.

Where do you receive free vaccines under the National immunisation program (NIP)?

• Doctor’s surgeries and hospital and health services
• Any pharmacy that has registered as a provider of NIP vaccines

Please check for any additional costs for this service before you book.

By Donna Itzstein Pharmacist, Credentialled Diabetes Educator    

This article was originally published on 24 March 2023. Updated 23^rd May, 2024

1. Australian Government; Department of Health and Aging. Influenza (flu). Australian Immunisation Website. [Online] March 15th, 2024. [Cited: April 24th, 2024.] https://immunisationhandbook.health.gov.au/contents/vaccine-preventable-diseases/influenza-flu.

2. Australian Government, Department of Health and Aging. 2024 Seasonal influenza vaccines. Therapeutic Goods Administration. [Online] March 1st, 2024. https://www.tga.gov.au/resources/publication/publications/2024-seasonal-influenza-vaccines.