Influenza (or ‘the flu’) is caused by three types of influenza virus – A, B and C that infect the respiratory system. Influenza is contagious and is spread by coughing, sneezing and direct contact with an infected person or by touching a contaminated surface.

Although people with underlying health conditions are most at risk from influenza associated complications, previously healthy people can still become seriously ill and even die.

Influenza continues to be a major threat to public health worldwide because of its ability to spread rapidly through populations. Anyone over the age of 6 months of age can be immunised against influenza.

Influenza, commonly called the flu, can be a serious illness that is sometimes fatal. Infection with the influenza virus may lead to a stay in hospital for any age group but particularly if you are elderly or have an ongoing medical condition. Influenza can make an existing medical condition, such as asthma or diabetes, a lot worse.

Even if you do not end up in hospital, influenza can keep you in bed for a week or more, preventing you from doing work, sport or just about anything that requires leaving the house.

Influenza is different from a cold. A cold virus only affects the nose, throat and the upper chest and lasts for a few days, whereas influenza can be a serious illness that affects the whole body and can last up to a week or more. 

No. You cannot get the flu from the vaccine, as it does not contain any live viruses.

However, some people will experience mild side effects such as muscle aches or headaches for a short time after immunisation. This is a normal reaction.

Being fit and healthy will not protect you from influenza. Influenza spreads easily and by immunising against influenza you can protect yourself and lesson the chance of bringing it home to a baby, older relative or someone with a medical condition who could develop serious complications from influenza.

The World Health Organization (WHO) takes influenza very seriously. Each year the WHO Information Surveillance Network studies the different strains of influenza and monitors their movements around the globe. They then decide which strains of the virus are likely to emerge in different parts of the world and develop vaccinations for them.

The vaccine cannot give you influenza as it only contains fragments of the virus. The vaccine stimulates the immune system to make antibodies that protect against circulating viruses. Most people have no reaction to the vaccine. Occasionally the site where the vaccination was given is red or sore for a day or two. Some people may feel unwell for a day or two. These are normal responses to the immunisation.

No. The seasonal influenza vaccine does not contain any live virus; it is completely inactivated and cannot give you influenza.

It takes up to two weeks for the vaccine to start providing protection.

No. It does not contain thiomersal (or any other mercury product).

Yes, it does contain traces of neomycin and polymyxin due to the use of these substances during production process. The flu vaccination does not contain any trace of gentamicin suphate.

Therefore the flu vaccination should be used with caution in subjects with a hypersensitivity to traces of these. However, this vaccine should not be used in people who have had an anaphylactic reaction to neomycin or polymyxin.

Regarding hypersensity and contraindications, current best evidence for influenza vaccines and recommendations by IMAC and Australian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy (ASCIA) are that individuals with anaphylaxis to any ingredient in the vaccine are contraindicated except egg allergy and should not receive a vaccine that includes them as residual.

Annual immunisation is required for two key reasons: first, because protection lessens over time and secondly, because influenza can be caused by different strains of viruses that are not always represented in the previous year’s vaccine.

Seasonal influenza vaccinations are recognised as being the single most effective way of reducing the impact of seasonal influenza – especially for those most at risk of complications.

The general contraindication to receiving any vaccine is a history of anaphylaxis to a previous dose or any constituent of the vaccine.

Immunisation should be deferred for anyone who is acutely unwell with a fever or other systemic illness.

Influenza vaccine is produced in hens eggs and may contain residual egg protein. Patients who have had a confirmed anaphylactic reaction to egg protein can still receive the vaccine under specialist supervision.

Neomycin and polymyxin are also residual in some influenza vaccines and patients with known anaphylaxis to these should not receive a vaccine that includes them as residual.

The seasonal influenza vaccine contains fragments of disrupted (inactivated) virus. It stimulates the immune system to produce antibodies that naturally protect against circulating influenza viruses. Many other viruses are also present throughout the year, so people may catch a different respiratory infection with ‘flu-like’ symptoms around the time the vaccine is give and mistakenly blame the influenza vaccine or influenza virus. The vaccine itself can cause mild aches and pains for up to a day or two after vaccination. Sometimes this is mistaken as early symptoms of the flu.

If Guillain-Barré syndrome has occurred within 6 weeks of previous influenza vaccination, the decision to give the flu vaccine should be based on careful consideration of the potential benefits and risks.

Influenza immunisation of pregnant women is recommended by the World Health Organization .
Because of the higher risk of influenza infection to mother and baby, the World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that pregnant women should be the highest priority in seasonal influenza vaccination programmes.

Immunising a pregnant woman offers protection both to the mother, the unborn baby.

Yes. The vaccine may be safely given to a lactating women. Taken from NISG – The National Influenza Specialist Group and IMAC – Immunisation Advisory Centre