Every Autumn I get the seasonal flu vaccine and every year I worry about having it. It can be difficult making the decision, particularly since you can experience mild symptoms for a few days and in very rare cases, extreme reactions such as Anaphylaxis (you have to wait for 15 minutes after the shot so that medical staff know that you are OK) and Guillain-Barré Syndrome.
However, if you weigh up the benefits and decide to have it administered, the vaccine is available free of charge to individuals who fall into particular groups. Everyone else will have to pay around $25.00 to have the vaccine administered (plus the cost of the consultation). However, some pharmacies provide a nurse who will administer the vaccine without prescription. (Cost around $30.00).
The recommended composition of the influenza virus vaccines for use in the 2011 southern hemisphere winter influenza season is:
A/California/7/2009 (H1N1)-like virus (Swine Flu)
A/Perth/16/2009 (H3N2)-like virus (Bird Flu)*
B/Brisbane/60/2008-like virus.
*A/Wisconsin/15/2009 and A/Victoria/210/2009 are A/Perth/16/2009-like viruses.
The government seasonal influenza vaccine brands in 2011 are:
Fluvax® (CSL Biotherapies)
Influvac® (Abbott) and
Vaxigrip® (Sanofi-aventis).
(Source: Victorian Health Department)
I've noticed that quite a few people have read this blog so I thought I should mention that this year I did have a sore arm for about three days but didn't have any unusual symptoms, such as a fever after the vaccine. I was however a little unwell for two days (after the first two days after receiving the vaccine), which may or may not have occurred whether I'd received the vaccine or not.
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