INFLUENZA SEASON 2026
Dear reader: the Influenza season is upon us once more and it is time once again to get immunized and immunize your children. Last year was the worst flu season on record. If you were immunized, you were 60% less likely to need to attend hospital or your General Practice. It is sobering to remember that if you get the flu and you are over 50, your rates of heart attack and stroke double for the 2 months after and any other chronic illness you might have gets much worse. 1,700 deaths were reported last year in Australia from Influenza, 8 of whom were children.
It makes a pretty compelling case, especially if you add lost days of work or school.
And this is also where we have some exciting news.
We now have a nasal spray instead of a needle for children.
The government has funded this alternative for children aged 2,3 and 4 years. It is a simple spray, with no needles and less drama. Tried and true, having been used for many years overseas. In fact, the FluMist can be given up to the age of 17, so siblings can have it also, it’s just not funded by the government. There is limited supply and it must be given before June.
Again, remember that children can pass on the influenza virus longer than adults once infected.
In fact, the influenza vaccine is recommended for ALL patients aged 6 months and older. It is only funded for children under 5, those who are at risk with higher rates of hospitalisation with this infection (that is other illnesses) It is, also , funded for those who are over 65, those patients who are immunocompromised, pregnant women and Aboriginal patients. This year the vaccine has only 3 strains (not 4 as before) to cover what we expect will come to us form the Northern winter. (as it usually does)
If you have the vaccine every year there is a wonderful patchwork effect where you will develop a grid of memory cells B cells and antibodies, ready for pretty much any permutation.
As GP’s we recognise there is vaccine hesitancy, misinformation and fatigue out there.
However it is hard for us just to sit on our hands when we see vaccine preventable deaths and illness.
If you will indulge me a little more, there are some important messages about other vaccines.
Whooping Cough: This is NOT only a disease of childhood. It is the “100-day cough” and it can be pretty miserable. Last year Australia recorded over 82,000 cases, the highest number since monitoring began in 1991. It remains a killer for newborns before immunisations kick in around 4-6 months. The government funds the vaccine for pregnant women but not adults. It comes combined with the tetanus and diphtheria vaccine and you should consider this vaccine from age 50 and every 5 years, especially if grandchildren are on the way.
In another alarming development, we are seeing Measles again in Australia. We have been protected by our vigilance and herd immunity for more than 20 years and rarely did we see a case. Holes in the ship are popping up everywhere.
On a positive note: there is evidence the new Shingles vaccine offers some protection for dementia! (20% over 7 years) This vaccine is funded for all those patients over 65 and is available for those over 50 years of age.
The COVID mRNA vaccines appear to boost your immune response to tumours and improve survival for patients with Melanoma and lung cancer. The vaccine acts as a “siren “alerting the immune system to attack tumour cells more effectively.
So, if you are of a certain age, avail yourself of important protection again Pneumonia, Influenza, Shingles, COVID and RSV.
It is just wise insurance. Winter is coming.
Thanks for your time
Neil Donovan