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

flu shot Source: Press Association

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

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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 .
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.


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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

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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

More information on the flu vaccination program is available at .



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1 min read
Published 16 March 2016 1:03pm
Updated 22 March 2016 10:13am
By Pamela Cook
Presented by Sima Tsyskin
Source: Immunise Australia Program


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