Health professionals are being urged to speak with their asthma patients about getting their influenza vaccine without delay, amid warnings of a potential early and severe flu season.
The National Asthma Council Australia (NAC) and the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA) have issued a joint call to action, highlight the risk that influenza poses to those with asthma.
Between 60-70% of asthma attacks are due to viral infections such as the common cold or influenza.
‘Visits to pharmacy – a perfect opportunity to speak with patients about flu vax’
Clinical Associate Professor Debbie Rigby, Clinical Executive Lead at the NAC, says health professionals play an important role ensuring patients are protected.
“Visits to the GP or pharmacy can provide the perfect opportunity to remind patients that the flu vaccine will remain effective for up to 5 months and provide immunity right throughout the flu season,” she says.
‘Vaccination – the best protection against severe illness’
PSA National President Associate Professor Fei Sim says the latest surveillance figures show more than 67,000 lab-confirmed flu cases so far this year, with numbers likely to rise as temperatures drop.
“Vaccination is the best protection against severe illness.
“We are encouraging all Australians living with asthma to visit their local community pharmacy and speak to their pharmacist about immunisation as soon as possible,” she says.
Flu vax free under NIP for asthma patients
The influenza vaccine is free under the National Immunisation Program (NIP) for Australians with asthma, and available at thousands of pharmacies nationwide.
Clinical Associate Professor Rigby said that it was significant that higher risk Australians, including children and adults with asthma, now have access to free influenza vaccinations under the National Immunisation Program (NIP).
“Now is also the ideal time for patients to schedule an annual asthma review with their GP to assess if they need to make any changes to their asthma medications and update their written asthma action plan so they stay well over winter,” says Clinical Associate Professor Rigby.
The NAC has also released a downloadable fact sheet, ‘10 myths about influenza’, to help patients better understand the importance of vaccination.
