Free H1N1 (Swine Flu) Vaccination Now Available
Posted: 30 September, 2009
Paul Corben North Coast Area Health Service (NCAHS) Director of Public Health said, “The Panvax® H1N1 vaccine was registered by the Therapeutic Goods Administration on 18 September 2009 and deliveries to North Coast immunisation providers commenced late last week.
“In the first few days of distribution more than 53,000 doses were delivered to over 135 immunisation providers across the North Coast. More deliveries are expected in the coming days and weeks.”
“Vaccination is the safest response for the community, particularly as large numbers of people are at risk of infection. In the past few months some people have suffered serious health complications and many have died following infection with this virus. By getting vaccinated you can protect yourself and help stop this flu spreading” Mr Corben said.
Panvax® H1N1 Vaccine has been prepared in the same way as seasonal flu vaccine and contains extracts of protein from the new flu strain. Once you get vaccinated, those proteins prompt your body to produce antibodies to protect you from the virus. This vaccine, like seasonal flu vaccines, does not contain live virus and cannot give you influenza.
Protection after vaccination varies from person to person, but people generally start producing the antibodies that provide protection two weeks after the vaccination. Protection is expected to last for at least one year.
All people aged 10 years and over can be vaccinated but some people are more at risk of severe outcomes if they catch this flu.
Vaccination is strongly recommended for pregnant women, parents and guardians of children up to 6 months old; Aboriginal people; people with underlying chronic conditions including heart disease; asthma and other lung diseases; cancer; diabetes; kidney disease; neurological disease; other chronic conditions (talk to your GP); p eople who are severely obese; frontline health workers and community care workers.
Between 1 May and 23 September 2009, there were 5,159 confirmed HINI influenza cases reported in NSW with 1,251 people admitted to hospital including 238 admissions to Intensive Care Units (ICU) and 49 deaths.
On the North Coast in the same period, there have been 519 confirmed cases, 69 hospital admissions including 14 admissions to Intensive Care Units and two deaths.
As reliance on testing was phased out in mid June, it is likely that there have been many more cases in the community than the numbers reported.
“Some people have suffered serious or fatal health complications from this flu. It is a new strain of flu that spreads easily from person to person. Experience in other countries shows that this is not just a winter flu – it could come back during spring and summer” Mr Corben said.
“Anyone who would like to be vaccinated against the pandemic will be eligible to access the vaccine through his/her General Practitioner or Aboriginal Medical Service (AMS). You should contact your immunization provider to find out about any specific arrangements” Mr Corben advised.
A vaccine for children aged 6 months and over is expected to be available in the near future.
Further information about pandemic influenza and the vaccine is available from the NSW Health website at http://www.emergency.health.nsw.gov.au/swineflu/index.asp