Influenza immunisation

Key information regarding 2022 WA influenza immunisation program

Letter – 2022 WA Government-funded influenza immunisation program – information for Immunisation providers (such as vaccine ordering and eligibility criteria) (PDF 383KB)
COVID-19 vaccines can be co-administered with an influenza vaccine
Opportunistic influenza vaccinations by co-administering with COVID-19 vaccines should be considered, where appropriate
All influenza vaccinations must be reported to the Australian Immunisation Register (AIR)
2022 NIP influenza vaccination program (external site)

Resources to support immunisation providers

The Influenza Update (online immunisation education module) provides current information on all aspects of immunisation and enhances immunisation knowledge to deliver vaccines safely. WA immunisation providers are encouraged to complete the module annually.

Mandatory reporting to the Australian Immunisation Register (AIR)

It is mandatory for immunisation providers to report influenza vaccinations to the Australian Immunisation Register (external site). This requirement came into effect 1 March 2021 in accordance with the Australian Immunisation Register Amendment (Reporting) Rules 2021 (external site). See how to set up your access to the AIR (external site).

Reporting adverse events following immunisation

Health providers can report possible adverse events following immunisation using the online portal at SafeVac Reporting WAVSS System (external site)

Read about the WA Vaccine Safety Surveillance System (external site) and how to report a reaction.

Groups eligible for a free influenza vaccine

The following people in WA are eligible to receive free government-funded influenza vaccines:

Aboriginal people 6 months and over
Children aged 6 months to under 5 years
Primary school aged children (pre-primary to Year 6)
People aged 6 months or over who have medical conditions such as:
- heart disease
- kidney disease
- chronic respiratory conditions
- chronic illnesses that required regular medical attention or hospitalisation in the previous year
- chronic neurological conditions
- immunocompromising conditions
- haematological disorders
- diabetes and other metabolic disorders
- children aged 6 months to 10 years receiving long-term aspirin therapy.
Pregnant women (at any stage of pregnancy)
People 65 years and older
Vulnerable persons aged 6 months and older, including:
- persons experiencing homelessness
- residents in congregate living settings, such as residential aged care, disability care, mental health hostels and youth group houses.

For further information, please see the WA Immunisation Schedule.

Free influenza vaccine program 2022 information

Providers are encouraged to continue to administer government-funded influenza vaccines for all West Australians.

During June and July 2022, all persons in Western Australia had the opportunity to receive a free influenza (flu) vaccination during June and July. This initiative was developed to provide greater access to influenza vaccines in 2022 for the WA community, to protect them against influenza.

This program was delivered through participating GPs, community pharmacies, Aboriginal Medical Services (AMSs) and state-led vaccination clinics; other providers could also join the program to provide influenza vaccinations at no cost to patients. During August, providers were encouraged to continue to administer government-funded influenza vaccines for all West Australians.

The Department of Health encourages participating GPs, community pharmacies and AMSs to continue providing the WA community with opportunistic vaccinations to those who are not usually eligible to receive a free vaccination via the National Immunisation Program (NIP) or ongoing state-funded programs, as well as provide government-funded influenza vaccines to eligible persons. You are encouraged to use your remaining government-funded influenza vaccine stocks and order more if required.

For further information email influenza.reimbursement@health.wa.gov.au.

Timing of influenza vaccination

Optimal protection against influenza occurs within 3 to 4 months following vaccination. Providers should consider vaccinating in the months prior to the typical influenza season occurs, which typically spans July to October in WA. While the influenza virus remains in circulation, it is never too late to get the influenza vaccine.

Refer to the Influenza chapter on the Australian Immunisation Handbook (external site) for detailed advice, including eligibility, vaccine dosage, and contraindications.

Healthcare worker influenza immunisation

Important message for WA Health staff: Please read the facts about influenza vaccination pre and post vaccination at Facts about the influenza vaccine (PDF 159KB).

Wherever your workplace, whatever your role, reduce your risk of catching influenza and passing it to patients or colleagues, and get vaccinated.

It is highly recommended for healthcare workers to receive the influenza vaccine due to them being in contact with vulnerable groups as part of their role.

Influenza (flu) can be a serious disease that can lead to hospitalisation and sometimes even death.
Anyone can get sick from influenza, including people who are otherwise healthy.
If you get influenza, you can spread it to others even if you don't feel sick.

Influenza immunisation for pregnant women

The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RANZCOG) (external site) strongly endorses routine vaccination of all pregnant women against influenza.¹

In recognition of the benefits of protecting pregnant women and their newborns against influenza, the WA Department of Health recommends that all pregnant women be offered influenza vaccination as part of routine, comprehensive, antenatal care.

Vaccination against influenza in late autumn, regardless of gestational age, is optimal, but unimmunised pregnant women should be vaccinated at any time during the influenza season.

More information

Visit HealthyWA for consumer information about:
- influenza vaccination (external site)
- influenza immunisation in pregnancy (external site)

Paediatric influenza immunisation

Why should you recommend influenza vaccination for young children?

In Australia, more children aged under 5 are hospitalised with influenza than any other vaccine preventable disease¹

The National Health and Medical Research Council (external site), , recommends annual vaccination for individuals 6 months or older who wish to reduce their chances of becoming ill with influenza.

Children with underlying medical conditions are at higher risk of severe illness and are eligible for a free influenza vaccine through the National Immunisation Program (external site).

Experience from Australia and overseas indicates that the majority of influenza-related paediatric hospitalisations and deaths occur among children without underlying medical conditions.

Influenza vaccine safety

AusVaxSafety (external site) is a network of GPs and clinics across Australia which allows parents/carers of children recently given a flu vaccine to report back on how their children felt after vaccination, to ensure vaccines registered for use in children are safe.

Real time vaccine safety data

Real time vaccine safety data can be accessed via the National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance (external site).

This rapid safety surveillance can provide reassurance to parents that the influenza vaccines used in children are safe. To learn more about the latest vaccine safety data visit National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance (external site).

More information

Visit HealthyWA for consumer information about influenza immunisation for children (external site).

References

Brotherton J, Wang H, Schaffer A, et al. Vaccine preventable diseases and vaccination coverage in Australia, 2003 to 2005. Communicable Diseases Intelligence 2007; 31(Suppl).

Adult influenza immunisation program

Influenza immunisation is recommended seasonally, even if a person has been vaccinated in any previous year with an influenza vaccine that contains the same strains. This is because the immunity to influenza acquired by immunisation wanes over time.

During the influenza season, the opportunities to provide influenza vaccination to persons at increased risk of influenza should not be missed during visits for routine medical care.

People with certain immunocompromising conditions (i.e. haematopoietic stem cell transplant or solid organ transplant) who are receiving the influenza vaccine for the first time are recommended to receive 2 vaccine doses at least 4 weeks apart (irrespective of age) and one dose annually thereafter.

Vaccines for use in over 65s

All people aged 65 years and over in WA are eligible for free influenza vaccines under the National Immunisation Program (NIP).

The QIV Fluad® Quad contains an adjuvant and is preferentially recommended for people ≥65 years of age over other available QIVs.

However, if Fluad® Quad is unavailable, vaccination with another QIV is preferable to providing no vaccination. In this case, Fluad® Quad does not subsequently need to be provided.

For further information on recommended seasonal influenza vaccines by age group, see the National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance (NCIRS) influenza vaccines (external site).

More information

Visit HealthyWA for consumer information about:
- influenza vaccine (external site)
- influenza vaccine for people 65 years and older (external site)

Resources

Research shows that patients who are recommended the influenza vaccine by their healthcare provider are three times more likely to get vaccinated.