Western Australians are being urged to get their free influenza vaccine from next month, to help prevent severe illness ahead of this winter.
For the third year, the State Government will provide free flu vaccines for everyone in May and June – the peak period for flu transmission in WA.
Flu vaccines will be available at participating GPs, community pharmacies and Aboriginal Medical Services. WA Health Minister Amber-Jade Sanderson said the cost-of-living relief measure would help to protect the community against the highly contagious virus.
“Concerningly, last year the flu hospitalised more than 1000 kids under nine-years old,” she said.
“That is why we are urging all Western Australians to get vaccinated… The best protection against influenza is immunisation and last year almost 32% of eligible West Australians received an influenza vaccination.”
The most vulnerable community members, including older adults, young children and pregnant women, are most at risk of severe complications if they get influenza, which can severely affect the respiratory system and cause symptoms ranging from minor to life-threatening.
While free flu vaccines will be available to all Western Australians aged six-months and older during this period, the government said some providers might charge a small administration fee.
The announcement comes the same week as the launch of WA’s groundbreaking rollout of Australia’s first immunisation program to protect babies from respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).
RSV is a highly infectious respiratory virus that infects up to two-thirds of all babies in their first year of life and, every year hospitalises more than 1000 infants in WA.
The State’s $11 million RSV immunisation rollout is expected to prevent more than 700 RSV-related infant hospitalisations, as well as 3000 emergency department presentations and 4000 GP consultations this year.
Babies born on or after October 1 last year can now receive the TGA-approved antibody Nirsevimab at GP practices, community health clinics and Aboriginal Medical Services that provide childhood immunisations.
Children born from 1 October 2022 with certain medical conditions that increase their risk of hospitalisation and Aboriginal children are also eligible. Similarly, from May to September RSV immunisations will be available at birthing hospitals across WA, providing protection to newborns before they leave hospital.
Premier Roger Cook said it was a game-changer for paediatric medicine and would protect hundreds of babies from getting seriously ill or hospitalised this winter, as well as easing pressure on hospitals and emergency departments.
Other States were now following WA’s lead.
Parents can book an appointment to get their babies immunised ahead of the approaching RSV season with one dose of Nirsevimab, given via injection, to protect infants for at least five months.