The Northern Hemisphere Flu vaccine has arrived for the 2023/2024 Northern Hemisphere Influenza season.
It covers the following strains:
- A/Victoria/4897/2022 (H1N1)pdm09-like virus;
- A/Darwin/9/2021 (H3N2)-like virus;
- B/Austria/1359417/2021 (B/Victoria lineage)-like virus; and
- B/Phuket/3073/2013 (B/Yamagata lineage)-like a virus.
The 2023 Southern Flu vaccine did not have the Influenza A/Victoria (H1N1) strain.
It is especially important for the following groups to receive the vaccine as they are more vulnerable to complications of influenza:
- Persons aged 65 years or older
- Children aged 6 months to under 5 years
- Women at all stages of pregnancy
- Adults and children who have chronic diseases, including asthma, diabetes and other chronic diseases of the heart, lungs, liver, kidneys, brain or blood or have a compromised immune system
- Children and adolescents aged six months to 18 years who are receiving long-term aspirin therapy
Other people who should receive the vaccine are:
- Persons receiving intermediate and long-term care (ILTC) services in institutional settings and
- All healthcare workers
- Travelers headed to winter destinations
However, even healthy individuals can get seriously ill from the flu, so everyone is encouraged to get this vaccine.
Book online or call our clinics on 6733 4440 to schedule your influenza vaccine.
