Influenza Vaccination
Protect yourself against the flu - Flu Vaccination now available at ATARA Compounding
What you need to know about the Flu
Influenza (The Flu) Information
The flu is the most common vaccine preventable illness in Australia.
The flu is a highly contagious viral infection. It may be mild in some, but it can cause very serious illness, hospitalisation and even death in otherwise healthy people. It is especially serious for babies, people aged over 65 years, people with underlying medical conditions and pregnant women.
Vaccination is a safe and effective way to help protect you from the flu. By getting vaccinated, you also help protect those that are too ill or too young to be vaccinated and help slow the spread of the disease.
It is important to get the flu vaccine every year. The virus strains that cause the flu change each year and the vaccine changes each year to match these strains. At Atara Pharmacy we will be using the 2024 quadrivalent vaccine for the flu vaccination service.
Influenza (The Flu) Information
Everyone over the age of 6 months is recommended to receive an annual flu vaccination.
The Australian Government’s National Immunisation Program (NIP) provides a free flu vaccines to the following eligible Medicare card holders:
- People aged 65 and older
- Pregnant women (at any stage of pregnancy)
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
- People aged 6 months and older with certain medical conditions that increase their chance of severe influenza and its complications
- Children aged 6 months to less than 5 years old (not available in pharmacy)
Please note, NIP vaccines can be limited, and not all pharmacies or pharmacist immunisers will have access to these free vaccines at the time of your appointment. If you believe you may be eligible for a free vaccine, it is recommended that you speak with your pharmacist prior to making your appointment to confirm availability of the free vaccine.
If you do not meet the NIP eligibility, or the pharmacy does not have the free vaccines available at the pharmacy, they will discuss your options with you.
For more information about Influenza and vaccinations:
FAQ – Flu Shot Questions
The flu is a highly contagious respiratory infection which spreads when an infected person coughs or sneezes, or by indirect contact with surfaces that are contaminated with respiratory secretions (such as door handles, bench tops, pens)
The flu is more than the common cold. Some people may have mild symptoms, but others may experience severe illness, hospitalisation and life-threatening complications.
The flu vaccine contains inactive particles of the flu virus that stimulate the body’s own natural defense mechanism (the immune system) to help develop protection from the virus.
A flu vaccination can help to protect you and your family from infection caused by the virus. The more people that are vaccinated in the community, the less likely it is for the disease to spread. If you have been vaccinated, when you encounter the virus, your body is better prepared to destroy it, which helps prevent you becoming unwell.
The best time to get a flu vaccine is in autumn (from late March to May) prior to the winter peak flu season which usually occurs between June and September.
Protection from the vaccine is expected to develop two to three weeks after immunisation and is expected to last for the whole season, but optimal protection occurs within the first three to four months after immunisation. You should not delay immunisation until closer to winter, as the flu can occur at any time, and the peak of the flu season may come earlier than expected.
No. There is no live virus in the flu vaccine so you cannot get the flu from the vaccine.
You may experience some mild side effects such as sore, red arm at the injection site, and/or tiredness, muscle aches headache or low-grade fever. This is your body’s immune response to the vaccine, not the actual flu illness itself. These symptoms usually resolve within a couple of days but if you have any concerns, please speak to your Pharmacist or Doctor.
In a small number of people, there may also be a risk of other effects such as fainting at the time of vaccination, or if you have Guillain-Barre syndrome, there may be a risk of neurological symptoms. If either of these are an issue for you, please mention this to the Pharmacist prior to you getting your vaccination.
Almost everyone can benefit from having the flu vaccination. Even if you’re fit and healthy, you could pass the virus onto someone who is at risk of becoming very unwell if they develop the flu.
Yearly vaccination is very important for people who are at highest risk of serious complications from flu, such as:
- Adults over 65 years of age
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
- Pregnant and breastfeeding women (the flu vaccine is safe at all stages of pregnancy)
- People with weakened immune systems
- People who smoke
- Infants and young children (6 months to 5 years of age)
- People with long-term health conditions such as heart disease, chronic lung disease such as COPD and asthma, chronic liver disease and many more
- Homeless people
- Occupational groups
- carers and household contacts of people in high-risk groups
- residents, staff, volunteers and visitors to aged care and long-term residential facilities
- essential services providers
- Travellers (when travelling during flu season)
Some of these high-risk groups may be eligible for a free flu vaccine under the National Immunisation Program. For further information, please speak to your Pharmacist or Doctor for more information.
Customers should not have the flu vaccine if there is a known allergy to eggs or chicken feathers, or if they’ve had a known allergic reaction to a vaccine in the past. Speak to your Pharmacist or Doctor for more information.
No, a prescription for a flu vaccine is not required.
The flu virus is constantly changing so the vaccine is updated each year to ensure it contains the most recent and common circulating strains.
Also, a person’s immune protection from influenza declines over time, so annual flu vaccination is recommended.
The flu vaccine meets Australia’s Therapeutic Goods Administration standards and has been available for over 50 years
ATARA Compounding Pharmacy is committed to providing the flu vaccination service this year to as many people as possible, whilst focusing on the health and safety of both our staff and our customers.
We will be following all COVID safe practices and guidelines, including private consultation areas, hand hygiene and sanitisers for both immuniser and customer use, social distancing whilst in the pharmacy and cleaning and disinfection of all hard surfaces in between appointments.
ATARA Compounding Pharmacy follow all professional, State and National guidelines regarding immunisation services within the pharmacy setting.
Prior to your vaccination, you will be asked to complete a consent form and asked some questions about your general health and if you’ve had any previous reactions to vaccines.
A trained pharmacist will administer the flu vaccination, and then you will be required to remain in the pharmacy for a further 15 minutes where you can be observed, just in case of any unlikely adverse reaction. (If you are unable to remain in the pharmacy for the 15 minutes after your vaccination, you must sign an Immunisation Monitoring Release Form and hand this to the Pharmacist prior to you leaving the premises).
Yes, all immunisations administered in a Pharmacy are recorded on the Australian Immunisation Register (AIR). Your Medicare number plus other personal details are used to ensure accurate recording of your immunisation.
Age restrictions apply and vary according to state or territory as to who can get a flu vaccine in a pharmacy, however most pharmacies can vaccinate adults and children aged 10 years and over. Please check with ATARA Compounding Pharmacy prior to booking.
The flu vaccine is safe for pregnant women. Pharmacists are able to vaccinate pregnant women in some states and territories, depending on relevant legislation. Please speak to your pharmacist to ensure they are able to vaccinate pregnant women.
An enhanced version of the flu vaccine is available for people aged 65 years or older. This vaccine is designed to increase the immune system’s response to the vaccine and cover against the strains more common and severe in older people. The vaccine is only accessible through the National Immunisation Program. People aged 65 years or older should speak with their pharmacist or doctor prior to booking a flu immunisation.