Flu season occurs each winter, and flu vaccinations are recommended for all individuals.

Vaccines are available, usually, from March/April, and patients eligible for the government funded vaccine will be contacted by SMS as soon as supplies are available.

Below is a list of those entitled to the free, Government-funded flu vaccine:·

• People aged 65 years and older
• 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
• Any person over six months of age with a condition predisposing them to severe influenza illness requiring regular medical follow-up or hospitalisation, including children aged six months to 10 years undergoing long-term aspirin therapy
• Individuals with cardiac disease, chronic respiratory conditions, immune-compromising conditions, diabetes and other metabolic disorders, chronic neurological conditions, renal disease and haematological disorders
• Down syndrome individuals who fall under one of the above categories
• Obese individuals defined as a body mass index (BMI) = 40 kg/m2 and fall under one of the above categories
• Sufferers of chronic liver disease and fall under one of the above categories
• Residents of aged care facilities and long-term residential care facilities and fall under one of the above categories.

It is also important to note that not all brands of flu vaccine are suitable for children under the age of 5.  Check with the clinic’s nurse vaccinator to see if your child can be safely vaccinated.