Influenza season is coming and, with reduced cases of influenza over the last couple of years due to COVID-19 restrictions and reduced travel, vaccination this year is important. There are currently lower levels of influenza vaccine coverage compared to years pre-COVID-19. Therefore, with international borders reopening, a resurgence of influenza is possible for 2022.
While it’s still early and The Australian Influenza Surveillance Report (AISR) won’t start publishing updates until May, the most recent COVID-19 surveillance report from NSW Health shows that between 10 April and 16 April 2022, there were 339 cases of influenza (A) reported in NSW. This is higher than the 2016-2019 average for the same time of year.1 This provides a timely reminder that annual vaccination is the best way to protect our communities from influenza and its complications.
Practices and pharmacies should have received a first lot of influenza vaccine stock and may have even started vaccination clinics.
To help you navigate the season, Healthy North Coast is holding six Immunisation updates in six different locations:
Clarence Valley
Wednesday 25 May 2022 | 6:00pm – 8:30pm
Coffs Harbour
Thursday 26 May 2022 | 6:00pm – 8:30pm
Tweed Valley
Wednesday 1 June 2022 | 6:00pm – 8:30pm
Northern Rivers
Thursday 2 June 2022 | 6:00pm – 8:30pm
Come together face-to-face over dinner and not only hear about the administration of 2022 seasonal influenza vaccines but also learn more about shingles disease and shingles vaccination options. The education will be delivered by Carolyn Lloyd, Public Health Nurse and Immunisation Coordinator for the North Coast Public Health Unit. 4 RACGP points apply and certificates of attendance will be provided for self-reporting.
Can’t make it to the face-to-face dinner events? Here are a few helpful tips to support a smooth influenza vaccination program and promote uptake:
- Identify all children aged six months to <five years and at-risk patients who are eligible for free influenza vaccination under the National Immunisation Program and send reminders to book in for their flu shot.
- Recall patients who may have missed routine vaccinations, this includes patients who missed routine vaccinations over the COVID-19 period. You are encouraged to catch them up as soon as possible. This includes missed childhood, adolescent or adult vaccinations funded under the NIP.
- Promote free influenza vaccination for eligible people – it’s important we continue to encourage uptake among eligible patients, with vaccination coverage dropping in 2021, particularly in children under five years of age.
- Display influenza posters available from NSW Health and Australian Government Department of Health.
- Support influenza and COVID-19 vaccination – these vaccines can be co‑consider opportunities to increase uptake of influenza vaccines by co‑administering with COVID-19 vaccines where appropriate.
- Report all vaccinations to the Australian Immunisation Register (AIR) which is mandatory.
- Refer to the checklist timeline (page 1) in NSW Health’s Influenza Vaccination Provider Toolkit to ensure you are on track to deliver this year’s program.
For practice support visit Primary Care Impact | Quality improvement for immunisation
For clinical guidance visit Mid and North Coast HealthPathways | Influenza Immunisation
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1. NSW Health. COVID-19 Weekly Data Overview – Epidemiological week 15, ending 16 April 2022. [Internet] NSW: NSW Health; 2022 [Updated 2022 April 21; cited 2022 April 26]. Available from: https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/Infectious/covid-19/Documents/weekly-covid-overview-20220416.pdf