The Flu Vaccine is provided free in Australia to certain groups. The reasoning behind this is that vaccination of the following gives better health outcomes and saves the Government money on hospitalisation. But you should consider having a flu vaccine even if you do not fall into the ‘at risk’ cateogory because the ‘flu’ is not just a cold – it can lay you low and keep you sick for many days and sometimes weeks. Talk to your Doctor and consider your risks.
Free influenza vaccine groups
- People who are 65 years of age and over
- Pregnant women at any time during their pregnancy
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged six months to under five years and 15 years and older
- Residents of nursing homes and other long-term care facilities
- Any person 6 months of age and older with a chronic condition predisposing to severe influenza illness that requires regular medical follow-up or hospitalisation, including children aged 6 months to 10 years undergoing long-term aspirin therapy, and people with:
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- cardiac disease
- chronic respiratory conditions
- immunocompromising conditions
- renal disease
- diabetes and other metabolic disorders
- chronic neurological conditions
- haematological disorders
- Down syndrome and fall under one of the above categories
- obesity (BMI greater than or equal to 30 kg/m2) and fall under one of the above categories
- alcoholism requiring regular medical follow-up or hospitalisation in the preceding year and fall under one of the above categories.
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