The Department of Health and Human Services put together a Q&A to help you and your clinic prepare for this flu season.
Influenza Program 2019. FAQs Will there be a pre-allocation of government-funded influenza vaccine?
Yes. Influenza vaccine will be pre-allocated to GP clinics, Community Health Centres and Aboriginal Health Centres. It is important to confirm your clinic is included by reviewing the pre-allocation list.
How do I know if I am on the pre-allocation list?
Visit our website to view the list of clinics receiving a pre-allocation of Trivalent vaccine for people aged 65 years and over and the number of doses you will receive.
When will my pre-allocation arrive and what pre-allocation arrive and what vaccine will be included?
Providers will receive their pre-allocation by Monday, 8th April. The delivery will only contain the trivalent vaccine, Fluad® for people aged 65 years and over.
What about flu vaccine for other eligible groups?
Once you have received your pre-allocation, influenza vaccine for other eligible groups may be ordered by downloading the latest Government funded vaccine order form. These orders will be processed after all practices have received their pre-allocation.
What if I am not on the pre-allocation list?
Providers who are not receiving a pre-allocation may download a Government funded vaccine order form from our website and place an order now for delivery the week commencing 15 April.
Who is eligible for free influenza vaccine?
- All children aged six months to less than five years - Victorian government funded
- All Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged from six months
- All adults aged ≥65 years
- All people aged ≥six months who have certain medical conditions which increase the risk of influenza disease complications; for example, severe asthma, lung or heart disease, low immunity or diabetes
- Pregnant women (during any stage of pregnancy).
What’s new for 2019?
All Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 6 months and older are now able to receive free seasonal influenza vaccines through the National Immunisation Program (NIP).
Please review the processes in your clinic to ensure all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 6 months and older are offered a NIP seasonal influenza vaccine from 2019.
Which government-funded flu vaccine brands are available in 2019?
Age-specific quadrivalent influenza vaccines (QIVs) are available for people under 65 years of age:
- FluQuadri Junior® (Sanofi Pasteur)
- FluQuadri® (Sanofi Pasteur)
- Fluarix® Tetra (GSK)
- Afluria-Quad® (Seqirus)
For people aged 65 years and older, a trivalent influenza vaccine (TIV) will be available:
- Fluad® (Seqirus) This vaccine should be given in preference to the QIV as it is specifically designed to provide increased protection for those aged 65 years and older by creating a greater immune response. The alternate TIV for people aged 65 years and older that was available in 2018, Fluzone High Dose® (Sanofi Pasteur), will not be available on the NIP in 2019.
What do I need to remember during flu season?
- Ensure all expired 2018 influenza vaccine is discarded
- Continue to check the barrel of the vaccine before each vaccination to ensure you administer the correct vaccine for the patient’s age.
- Always use the latest Government funded vaccine order form when requesting vaccine.
- Please allow 5 days for vaccine deliveries during flu season (also consider public holidays when placing your vaccine order).
- Do not book patients until you have influenza vaccine in your vaccine fridge.
- Optimal protection against influenza occurs within the first three to four months following vaccination. Timing of vaccination should aim to achieve the highest level of protection during peak influenza season, usually from June to September in most parts of Australia. Vaccinating from April provides protection before the peak season.
2019 Influenza Virus Strains
Influenza virus strains included in the 2019 seasonal influenza vaccines are:
- A (H1N1): an A/Michigan/45/2015 (H1N1)pdm09 like virus
- A (H3N2): an A/Switzerland/8060/2017 (H3N2) like virus (New in 2019)
- B: a B/Colorado/06/2017 like virus (New in 2019) (not included in the TIVs)
- B: a B/Phuket/3073/2013 like virus
Please read the Chief Medical Officer's statement for the general public about the 2019 influenza vaccines.