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INFLUENZA - YOU’RE NEVER TOO FIT TO GET HIT!

‘Get immunised early’ is the message health professionals want to get across to the public regarding the Flu Immunisation this year.

The thought is that perhaps people hold back on receiving their Flu Immunisations because of misconceptions and false beliefs. But in fact, the influenza vaccine available in New Zealand cannot give you influenza, as the vaccine does not contain any live viruses. The vaccine has been made from viruses that have been concentrated, inactivated then broken apart. When vaccinated, the body responds to the vaccine by producing an immune response. This can include systemic symptoms such as fever, malaise and muscle aches. Other respiratory viruses circulate during the winter months and influenza vaccines do not protect against these.  Most of these viruses cause milder infections (e.g. the common cold) and do not pose the same threat to those at ’high-risk’ and therefore they should not be confused with influenza - Influenza is a potentially serious viral infection – much worse than a cold.  Complications of the illness can last for weeks, often confine you to bed and can carry the risk of permanent damage or death. 
 
You can only be immune to a particular strain of the virus if you’ve had it before.  And, as the virus strains keep changing each year, most people are unlikely to have natural immunity.  That’s why annual immunisation is important to provide protection from the strains most likely to circulate in New Zealand.  The inactivated influenza vaccine provides the best protection against influenza.
 
In the 13 years from 1980 to 1992, a total of 5650 New Zealanders died from influenza, at a rate of more than 400 a year.  Influenza continues to be a major threat to public health world wide because of its ability to spread rapidly through populations.

The influenza vaccine is FREE for those at high risk who:
• Are 65 years or older or regularly use an asthma Inhaler
• Have diabetes, heart disease or kidney problems
• Have a serious medical condition or cancer
It is available to anyone else at the doctor’s for a small cost.  Anyone over 6 months of age can be immunised against influenza and the vaccine may also be given safely to lactating women.  For pregnant women the influenza immunisation has substantial benefits for both mothers and infants.
 
People travelling outside New Zealand, who are in ’high-risk’ groups and who have not received a vaccine during the previous autumn, should consider immunisation depending on the season and their destination.  In tropical countries, influenza activity can occur throughout the year, while in temperate climates in the northern hemisphere activity is more common between the months of December and March. The United States Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommendations are similar and recommend that people at high risk of influenza complications should consider receiving an influenza vaccine before travel if they plan to travel:
 a) to the tropics;
 b) with large organised tourist groups at any time of the year (e.g. cruise ships); or
 c) to temperate climates within the northern hemisphere e.g. UK
Annual influenza immunisation is also strongly recommended for all healthcare workers to protect those patients at greater risk of developing complications following Influenza illness. 

Studies demonstrate that annual influenza vaccine for healthcare workers significantly reduces illness and death among the patients they care for.  Only 20-40% of healthcare workers in NZ received an influenza vaccination each year and many staff continue to work when sick, thereby exposing influenza illness to patients and co-workers.
Healthcare workers have a responsibility to protect vulnerable patients from the serious health threat of influenza illness.  Annual influenza immunisations results in improved patient safety, improved employee safety and decreased healthcare expenditure.

This year the vaccine is made up of:
•  A/Brisbane/59/2007 (H1N1)-like virus
•  A/Brisbane/10/2007 (H3N2)-like virus
•  B/Florida/4/2006-like virus

Even when immunised, people should practice good hygiene to prevent the spread of the infection - cover your mouth when coughing or sneezing and then wash your hands; always use disposable tissues; and stay home from work or school when sick.

Flu vaccines are available at your GP practice from early March.  Contact them to arrange an appointment and to enquire if you are eligible for free vaccination.

KCDC Councillor Daniel receiving his annual flu vaccination from Practice Nurse Hillary Chubb of Raumati Road Surgery.