St Michael's Primary School

Staff Influenza Immunisations 2024

Am I able to have the vaccine?
Information about the vaccine.
Registration

1. Am I able to have the vaccine?

The influenza vaccine can safely be given to anyone aged 5 years and over unless they have had anaphylaxis (a severe allergic reaction) to any influenza vaccine or any component of an influenza vaccine previously.

The influenza vaccine can be safely given to people:

with an egg allergy
with a latex allergy
with a history of Guillain–Barré syndrome
who are receiving cancer therapies
who are pregnant or breast-feeding.

2. Information about the vaccine.

Influenza (the "flu") is a common viral infection of the respiratory tract. It can infect people of any age.

Although it can be a mild infection, it can also cause very serious illness in otherwise healthy people. It can require hospitalisation and can cause death.

The vaccine is a split virion vaccine. It is prepared from purified inactivated influenza virus that has been cultivated in hens’ eggs.

It is quadrivalent meaning it contains 4 influenza virus strains: 2 influenza A subtypes and 2 influenza B lineages.

None of the influenza vaccines available in Australia contain live influenza virus, so they cannot cause influenza infection.

Advantages:

reduces the chance of adults getting influenza illness by at least half
reduced the chance of hospitalisation and death from influenza infection

Disadvantages:

Injection site reactions (around 10% of people who receive the influenza vaccine) including hardening of the skin, swelling, redness and/or pain where the injection was given into the muscle.
More generalised reactions (1-10% of people who receive the influenza vaccine) including fever, feeling unwell and/or sore muscles. These adverse events may start a few hours after vaccination and may last for 1–2 days.
Very rarely: hives, other allergic reactions or anaphylaxis.

Treatment of common side effects:

Localised pain, swelling or redness are usually mild and will settle on their own without treatment. A cold pack to the area can be used if desired.

Pain or fever can be treated with paracetamol.

If other or more serious reactions occur they should be discussed with the doctor on 9329 8103.

Co-administration with other vaccines:

Influenza vaccines can be given at any time before or after, or with, most other vaccines, including COVID-19 vaccines.

The Consumer Medicine Information (CMI) for the vaccine is available here.

3. Registration:

Name (as it appears on your Medicare card):
Gender:
Date of birth: Address:	Suburb: State: Postcode:
Contact telephone number: Email address:
Medicare number:	Card number: Individual number (to left of name): Expiry date:
Do you have any serious health conditions?	No Yes. If yes, please give further details:
Do you have any allergies?	No Yes. If yes, please give further details: