Influenza

Now that work and school has resumed, before we know it the influenza season will once again be upon us. NSW Health is currently taking orders for influenza vaccine however deliveries will not commence until early March. So before the season is truly underway consider setting up reminder recalls for flu vaccine for all patients over 65 years, children aged 5 years and over, adults with chronic conditions and Aboriginal patients. It is ideal to link these vaccines into annual health assessments and chronic disease care plans and reviews.

Pneumococcus
The following people are able to access 23 polyvalent pneumococcal vaccine for free:

• All people aged ≥ 65 years
• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people ≥ 50 years of age
• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people 15 - 49 years of age who have underlying conditions placing them at risk of pneumococcal disease.

Patients reaching 70 years of age in 2011 will be due for their second pneumococcal immunisation.

In addition, 23 polyvalent pneumococcal vaccine is also available on the PBS as a restricted benefit for:

• Persons at high risk of pneumococcal infections;
• Splenectomised persons over 2 years of age;
• Patients with Hodgkin’s disease.

According to the Australian Immunisation Handbook, patients with increased risk of pnemococcal disease include:

• patients with impaired immunity - eg. HIV, nephritic syndrome, myeloma, lymphoma, Hodgkin’s disease and organ transplantation
• patients with chronic illnesses that are associated with an increased risk of pneumococcal disease including diabetes, chronic cardiac, renal or pulmonary disease
• tobacco smokers and people with alcohol related problems.

Refer to page 246 of the Immunisation Handbook for more details.