Parents of children aged six months to under five years are urged to book their child in for a free flu vaccine with their GP, as this cohort is at risk of suffering serious illness from influenza.
Influenza vaccination is safe and effective, and children aged six months to under five years are eligible for a free vaccine from their GP under the National Immunisation Program (NIP).
Acting Executive Director, Health Protection NSW, Dr Vicky Sheppeard said young children are making up a higher proportion of flu cases than two years ago.
“Almost two in 10 flu notifications (17%) in March were kids aged under five, compared with one in 10 (10%) for the same period in 2019,” Dr Sheppeard said.
“With international borders reopening, increased social mixing and lower exposure to influenza over the past two years, more people of all ages will be at risk of influenza than in the past two years, when COVID-19 safeguard measures offered us greater protection,” said Dr Sheppeard.
This year there is particular concern for those young children aged two and under, who have never lived through a flu season or gained any immunity to the virus. There is plenty of vaccine supply available across NSW, so book in with your GP now.
While no influenza vaccines are licenced for use in children less than six months of age, vaccination during pregnancy does provide protection to infants in the early months of life.
“Women can get the flu shot at any time during pregnancy. It takes at least two weeks to make antibodies after getting a flu vaccine and those antibodies are passed on to the baby, offering a newborn protection against influenza,” Dr Sheppeard said.