Kon-Tiki News – All you need to know about the 2019 flu vax!
Welcome to Kon-Tiki News, the only newsletter for the Kon-Tiki Medical Centre on the Sunshine Coast. The new year is well and truly underway and Kon-Tiki is striving forward with bringing the coast new and vital health services.
This newsletter is a once off information dump! It’s flu season and we’re all wondering the same thing — when are the vaccinations available? Well, we’ve got the answers so read on and enjoy!
FLU VAX!
It’s that time of year again!
NON-GOVERNMENT FUNDED (PRIVATE) FLU VACCINATIONS ARE ARRIVING IN CLINICS NOW!
These vaccinations are recommended for:
Children aged 5-17 years
Adults aged 18-65 years
Group / workplace vaccinations clinics.
(Please send an email to reception@kontikimedical.com.au to enquire.)
For eligible patients, Kon-Tiki Medical Centre may be able to offer bulk-billing appointments.
IN THE CASE OF GOVERNMENT FUNDED VACCINATIONS, WE’RE EXPECTING THEM TO ARRIVE MID-APRIL. These vaccinations are free and recommended for:
Infants aged 6 months to under 5 years of age
Seniors that are 65 years and older.
I RECEIVED A FLU SHOT IN 2018, DO I STILL NEED TO GET A FLU SHOT THIS YEAR?
Yes! The various strains of flu virus can change from year to year! This means that the vaccine must also change to protect against how the strains have developed. Even if the flu strains do not change, a yearly vaccination for influenza is still recommended since the immunity given from the flu vaccination is not long lasting.
The flu is also highly contagious. The more people vaccinated, the less chance the flu could pass onto someone at risk. It’s one thing for us middle aged, hardy adults to contract the flu – we can go a couple rounds in the ring and still make it out relatively okay. For the very young, the frail, and the aged, the flu is a potentially life-threatening illness. Worst case scenario, it’s a one punch KO.
There is an excellent comic available at The Nib (this newsletter is peppered with panels from the comic!) if you want to check it out. It addresses many concerns regarding getting any vaccination, along with a wonderful description on “herd immunity” a vital component in protecting those high risk members of our community, as discussed in the paragraph above.
WHAT’S THE BENEFIT OF HAVING A FLU SHOT PERFORMED IN A MEDICAL CENTRE, RATHER THAN A CHEMIST?
It’s good practice to have your yearly flu shot administered by your GP since they have your medical history and can keep a record of your vaccinations and chat about any medical concerns you might have!
WHAT ARE THE MOST COMMON SYMPTOMS OF THE FLU?
Symptoms may occur from 1 to 3 days after infection and generally seem like the “common cold”. What you want to look out for, if you suspect you might have the flu, is:
• Tiredness
• Fever
• Chills
• Headache
• Cough
• Sneezing and runny nose
• Poor appetite
• Muscle aches
If you or your loved ones experience any of these symptoms this flu season, please see your doctor. There is a chance of further health problems developing in some people after flu infection such as pneumonia and complications of the heart, blood, system, and liver (which can lead to death, especially in children and seniors.)
WHAT DOES THE FLU VACCINE CONTAIN?
The Alfuria Quad vaccine, which is the vaccination available for private purchase (not the government-funded vaccine) contains the inactivated virus fragments of four types of influenza:
- H1N1 – 15 micrograms
- H3N2 – 15 micrograms
- Brisbane B Strain – 15 micrograms
- Phuket B Strain – 15 micrograms
So, this flu season, give us a call and book in for a flu vax! If you have any concerns and need for further information, give us a call on 5349 0390 and we’d be happy to help!
