AMA warns against early flu vaccine for over-60s

In the wake of last year’s deadly flu outbreak, many pharmacies are encouraging people to get in early for this year’s vaccinations.

However, the Australian Medical Association (AMA) has warned the public not to vaccinate themselves too soon, noting that doing so may not protect them when the outbreak is at its worst later in the year.

Speaking to Starts at 60, AMA Vice President Dr Tony Bartone said a turbo-charged vaccine created specifically for people over the age of 65 would be available from mid-April. Any existing vaccines being offered mostly likely won’t protect people when they need it most.

“The government hasn’t released the stocks for that and that will be released in mid-April or just after. It’s free and it’s part of the annual vaccination program for the over-65s,” Dr Bartone explained.

The turbo-charged vaccine differs from the regular vaccine, and is designed to protect older members of society. 

“They’re either higher dose versions of the flu vaccine or something that has a little bit of an extra turbo-charger in terms of increasing the effect of the standard dose in the vaccine,” Dr Bartone said. “So they’re specifically targeting the elderly, which was found to take the brunt of last year’s flu epidemic and specifically targeting influenza A subtypes, which were the major cause of the strain of influenza last year.”

Just like food products, vaccinations have an expiry date and getting the shot too early can leave people susceptible to the flu later in the season. 

“We know that vaccination will give you a good three to four months protection from that current strain of influenza that it’s trying to protect from. It will give you some ongoing protection after that, but it tends to wane,” Dr Bartone warned. 

“Over-60s are most prone to risk to the effects of influenza, so it makes sense to ensure that they’re protection is maximal right up to peak of the season, which can be August or September.”

Last winter was one of Australia’s worse when it comes to the flu. More than 71,000 became infected, with Queensland and New South Wales being hit hardest by the flu. Victoria and South Australia were also impacted, with seven elderly people in a Victorian aged care facility dying as a result of their symptoms. It took other Australians longer than normal to overcome their symptoms.

When do you usually get your flu vaccine for winter? Did you avoid the flu last year?