• Who we are
    • Who we are Our Network Activities
  • Immunisation
    • Throughout Life
      • Across The Lifespan
      • Kids
      • Adolescents
      • Adults
      • Pregnancy
      • Older Adults
      Diseases
      • HPV
      • Influenza
      • Meningococcal Disease
      • Pneumococcal Disease
      • Shingles
      • Whooping Cough
      Immunisation Info
      • Australian State Based Free Immunisations
      • Immunisations Facts
      • Herd Immunity
      • How Vaccines Work
      Be FluSmart
      • Influenza and Heart Attack
      • Be Smart About Flu
      • Flu Facts
      • Influenza and Children
      • Influenza-65 years and over
      • Influenza and Pregnancy
      • Flu Videos
      • Travel FluSmart
      • Who’s at risk?
      Be PneumoSmart
      • Be smart about pneumococcal disease
      • Pneumococcal Disease Facts
  • News & Media
    • Flu Statistics
      • 2021 Influenza Statistics
      • Historic Influenza Statistics
      Advocacy
      • Immunisation Coalition Position Statements
      Latest News
      • Jab Chat : Dr Rod Pearce AM on the Byron Cooke show
      • UNLOCKING AUSTRALIA
      • Notice regarding the 2020 influenza vaccine supply in Australia
      • Latest data shows Australians are keen to protect themselves from influenza this year!
      • Statement on Mandatory Healthcare Workers Influenza Vaccination in Victoria
      • Children and the flu
      • The Flu – It’s Not a Cold, It’s a Killer
      • Media Release: Experts call for mandatory flu vaccination for Health Care Workers
      • Update on Meningococcal W
  • Events
    • Australian Events and Conferences
      • Influenza Action Week
      • The Immunisation Coalition’s free influenza vaccination events – mailing list
      • 2021 Adult Immunisation Forum – New date
      • Other Australian events and conferences
      International Events
      • International Events
      Previous Events
      • 2021 Annual Scientific Meeting
      • 2020 ISG Annual Scientific Meeting
      • 2019 Adult Immunisation Forum
      • 2019 ISG Annual Scientific Meeting
      • 2018 Adult Immunisation Forum
      • 2018 ISG Annual Scientific Meeting
      • 2017 Adult Immunisation Forum
      • 2017 ISG Annual Scientific Meeting
      Webinars
  • Resources
    • COVID-19
      • COVID-19 information and links to Australian Government resources
      • COVID-19 helpful links and other information
      • COVID-19 Webinar Series
      • Unlocking Australia
      Fact Sheets
      • Flu Fact Sheet
      • Fact Sheets for vaccine preventable diseases
      Guides For Health Care Professionals
      • Antiviral Treatments for Influenza
      • Influenza
      • Vaccination During Pregnancy
      • Meningococcal Disease
      • Pertussis
      • Pneumococcal Disease Guide
      • Shingles
      Immunisation Guides
      • Vaccination Guide
      • Measles Vaccination Catch-up Guide
      Tools
      • Pneumococcal Vaccination Tool
      • Take the flu test
      Other resources
      • Reports and other important documents
      • 2019 Flu Truths Materials
      • Free posters to download
      • Request Forms
      • Useful Links
      Webinars
      • 2021 Meningococcal Disease Webinar – Register now!
      • COVID-19 Webinar Series
      • RACGP Meningococcal Disease webinar
      • Immunisation Coalition’s 2021 Webinar Calendar
      • 2020 Shingles Webinar
      • 2020 Pertussis Webinar
      • 2020 Pneumococcal Disease Webinar
      • 2020 Influenza Vaccination Webinar
      Videos
      • YouTube Channel
  • /immunisationcoalition
  • @immunisationgap
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • /immunisationcoalition
  • @immunisationgap
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Immunisation Coalition,
  • Who we are
    Who we are Our Network Activities
  • Immunisation
    • Throughout Life
      • Across The Lifespan
        Read more
      • Kids
        Read more
      • Adolescents
        Read more
      • Adults
        Read more
      • Pregnancy
        Read more
      • Older Adults
        Read more
    • Diseases
      • HPV
        Read more
      • Influenza
        Read more
      • Meningococcal Disease
        Read more
      • Pneumococcal Disease
        Read more
      • Shingles
        Read more
      • Whooping Cough
        Read more
    • Immunisation Info
      • Australian State Based Free Immunisations
        Read more
      • Immunisations Facts
        Read more
      • Herd Immunity
        Read more
      • How Vaccines Work
        Read more
    • Be FluSmart
      • Influenza and Heart Attack
        Read more
      • Be Smart About Flu
        Read more
      • Flu Facts
        Read more
      • Influenza and Children
        Read more
      • Influenza-65 years and over
        Read more
      • Influenza and Pregnancy
        Read more
      • Flu Videos
        Read more
      • Travel FluSmart
        Read more
      • Who’s at risk?
        Read more
    • Be PneumoSmart
      • Be smart about pneumococcal disease
        Read more
      • Pneumococcal Disease Facts
        Read more
  • News & Media
    • Flu Statistics
      • 2021 Influenza Statistics
        Read more
      • Historic Influenza Statistics
        Read more
    • Advocacy
      • Immunisation Coalition Position Statements
        Read more
    • Latest News
      • Jab Chat : Dr Rod Pearce AM on the Byron Cooke show
        Read more
      • UNLOCKING AUSTRALIA
        Read more
      • Notice regarding the 2020 influenza vaccine supply in Australia
        Read more
      • Latest data shows Australians are keen to protect themselves from influenza this year!
        Read more
      • Statement on Mandatory Healthcare Workers Influenza Vaccination in Victoria
        Read more
      • Children and the flu
        Read more
      • The Flu – It’s Not a Cold, It’s a Killer
        Read more
      • Media Release: Experts call for mandatory flu vaccination for Health Care Workers
        Read more
      • Update on Meningococcal W
        Read more
  • Events
    • Australian Events and Conferences
      • Influenza Action Week
        Read more
      • The Immunisation Coalition’s free influenza vaccination events – mailing list
        Read more
      • 2021 Adult Immunisation Forum – New date
        Read more
      • Other Australian events and conferences
        Read more
    • International Events
      • International Events
        Read more
    • Previous Events
      • 2021 Annual Scientific Meeting
        Read more
      • 2020 ISG Annual Scientific Meeting
        Read more
      • 2019 Adult Immunisation Forum
        Read more
      • 2019 ISG Annual Scientific Meeting
        Read more
      • 2018 Adult Immunisation Forum
        Read more
      • 2018 ISG Annual Scientific Meeting
        Read more
      • 2017 Adult Immunisation Forum
        Read more
      • 2017 ISG Annual Scientific Meeting
        Read more
    • Webinars
  • Resources
    • COVID-19
      • COVID-19 information and links to Australian Government resources
        Read more
      • COVID-19 helpful links and other information
        Read more
      • COVID-19 Webinar Series
        Read more
      • Unlocking Australia
        Read more
    • Fact Sheets
      • Flu Fact Sheet
        Read more
      • Fact Sheets for vaccine preventable diseases
        Read more
    • Guides For Health Care Professionals
      • Antiviral Treatments for Influenza
        Read more
      • Influenza
        Read more
      • Vaccination During Pregnancy
        Read more
      • Meningococcal Disease
        Read more
      • Pertussis
        Read more
      • Pneumococcal Disease Guide
        Read more
      • Shingles
        Read more
    • Immunisation Guides
      • Vaccination Guide
        Read more
      • Measles Vaccination Catch-up Guide
        Read more
    • Tools
      • Pneumococcal Vaccination Tool
        Read more
      • Take the flu test
        Read more
    • Other resources
      • Reports and other important documents
        Read more
      • 2019 Flu Truths Materials
        Read more
      • Free posters to download
        Read more
      • Request Forms
        Read more
      • Useful Links
        Read more
    • Webinars
      • 2021 Meningococcal Disease Webinar – Register now!
        Read more
      • COVID-19 Webinar Series
        Read more
      • RACGP Meningococcal Disease webinar
        Read more
      • Immunisation Coalition’s 2021 Webinar Calendar
        Read more
      • 2020 Shingles Webinar
        Read more
      • 2020 Pertussis Webinar
        Read more
      • 2020 Pneumococcal Disease Webinar
        Read more
      • 2020 Influenza Vaccination Webinar
        Read more
    • Videos
      • YouTube Channel
        Read more
  • Search
  • About this disease
  • Symptoms
  • How is it spread
  • Complications
  • Prevention
  • Treatment
  • Info for Clinicians

Media Release: Protect Australians from Influenza

  • Home
  • News & Media
  • elderly
  • Media Release: Protect Australians from Influenza

Experts concerned about Australians being exposed this Flu Season. Latest survey shows: less than half of Australian adults intend to get a flu shot this year!

The National Immunisation Program provides free influenza vaccine for the elderly, as well as other high-risk groups including pregnant women, those with chronic diseases and Indigenous Australians 15 years and over from this week. But without achieving vaccination rates of 80%, vulnerable people in the community may be exposed to the potentially deadly disease.

 

Australia’s leading voice in whole-of-life immunisation, the Immunisation Coalition publishes the latest Survey results today with a call to action: Australians need to get the flu shot not only for their own protection but also to reduce the spread of influenza to vulnerable people, including pregnant women #HitMeWithYourBestShot

 

17. March 2018, Melbourne – While the flu vaccine may not provide a 100% guarantee of not being infected with the flu, it is nevertheless more important than you think. The latest Immunisation Coalition survey shows that 35% of adults would get this year’s flu shot if they knew it had been updated to better match the circulating viruses.

 

Kim Sampson, CEO of the Immunisation Coalition explains why it is worth getting the flu shot: ‘All influenza vaccines available in Australia this year have been updated to better protect against the circulating virus strains!’

 

People who get vaccinated are at lower risk of contracting influenza than those who are not. They are less likely to be laid up in bed with sweats, shivers and muscle aches, and take time off work or their usual activities, or to be hospitalised with complications. Kim Sampson wants to be clear: If you are vaccinated, you’re less likely to get the flu. But that’s not the whole story!

 

If you are healthy, your decision is about considering the cost for the flu shot and a few moments of discomfort against the possibility that you’ll need to take time off work and endure days of misery due to infection.

 

But, you should not just think about yourself! The decision to get vaccinated is about evaluating the risk that you can pass the flu on to someone who is at risk of serious illness from infection, even before you are aware that you have the flu. For vulnerable people – such as the elderly, young children, pregnant women or people with underlying medical conditions – the flu can be the difference between being at home or being in hospital with complications such as bacterial pneumonia, which can put their life at risk.

 

Australian studies generally estimate that the risk of influenza is reduced by about 40-50% in people who receive the vaccine. And while this might seem low, reducing the risk of infection by half is worth the effort! The Immunisation Coalition recommends getting a flu shot in April or early May, as it takes two weeks for the body to build immunity and the effect usually lasts for 6-8 months.

 

Last year saw not only 250,000 cases of laboratory confirmed flu but also 1,100 Australians died from influenza complications. And the flu does not discriminate – it affects people of all ages, and infections among the elderly are more likely to require hospitalisation, or cause serious complications such as pneumonia and heart attacks.

 

The Immunisation Coalition’s mission is to reduce the public health impact of vaccine preventable diseases in Australia, and recommends for everyone older than 6 months to get vaccinated against influenza.  You can check here if you are eligible for a free flu shot: https://www.immunisationcoalition.org.au/immunisation/whos-at-risk/

 

For more information please visit: www.immunisationcoalition.org.au

 

Or join the conversation at https://www.facebook.com/immunisationcoalition/ and Twitter https://twitter.com/immunisationgap

 

MEDIA CONTACT:

If you would like to talk to one of our experts, please send a text message with your details to:

042089 6976

Susanne Sperber, Immunisation Coalition: Susanne @immunisationcoalition.org.au

 

About Immunisation Coalition

The Immunisation Coalition is a not for profit advocacy group with a mission to create awareness about the importance of immunisation. Immunisation still provides the best protection against infectious diseases. We work with consumers, health professionals and organisations with an interest in immunisation and government health agencies, ensuring that the information provided to consumers through our website and other communication channels is current, easily understood and scientifically informed.

 

Facts from the 2018 Immunisation Coalition Survey 1

  • Intention of having a flu shot: Yes 44%, No 56%
  • Women 55+ have the highest intention of having a flu shot: 74%
  • Woman in full-time employment: 68% intend to have a flu shot.
  • 64% of parents of school aged children intend to get the flu shot
  • Middle aged men (35-45) in regional and rural Australia have the lowest intention of getting a flu shot: only 27% have intentions to get a flu shot.
  • Men are more sceptical and believe that the flu vaccine does not work (57% of responses from men compared to 43% from women) – particularly men aged 55-64 where 59% mentioned this.
  • Australians with an income of less than $50,000 in regional and rural areas are the second lowest segment of the population intending to get the influenza vaccine: only 31%.
  • And only 36% of young men 18-34 intend to get the flu shot
  • 35% would get this year’s flu shot if they knew it has been updated to better match the mutated virus.
  • Only 27% of Australian adults get a flu shot every year.
  • 43% of the adult population “Do not believe the flu shot works”
  • 24% do not think it is important.
  • 18% do not “believe in unnecessary vaccines”

1 Healthcare and Medical Research Study, Attitudes to Flu Vaccination, Australian general Population, Immunisation Coalition, April 2018

Sample: National, representative sample with interviews undertaken in all capital cities, main regional cities and a large number of rural towns. Over 15,000 respondents. Survey conducted by APMI partners.

 

Download the full media release here.

Download the 2018 Australian Flu Season media briefing document here.

  • The Coalition
    • Activities
    • Our Network
    • Who are we?
  • Events
    • Immunisation
      • Be FluSmart
      • Be PneumoSmart
      • Diseases
      • Immunisation Info
      • Throughout Life
    • News & Media
      • Advocacy
      • Flu Statistics
      • Latest News
      • Statistics for other diseases
    • Resources
      • COVID-19
      • Events
      • Fact Sheets
      • Guides For Health Care Professionals
      • Immunisation guides
      • Other resources
      • Tools
      • Videos
      • Webinars
    • Events
      • Australian Events and Conferences
      • International Events
      • Previous Events
    • QUICK LINKS
      • About Us
      • Contact Us
      • Disclaimer
      • Privacy Policy
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Instagram
    • Our website does not host any form of advertising.
    • This website is certified by Health On the Net Foundation. Click to verify. This site complies with the HONcode standard for trustworthy health information:
      verify here.

    © 2021 Immunisation Coalition