 FLU VACCINATION PROGRAMME 2009
THE NEED FOR AN ANNUAL VACCINATION PROGRAMME:
An effective vaccination programme should be conducted on an annual basis due to regular changes in influenza virus subtypes and vaccines.
Monitoring Changes:
To deal with these regular changes, in 1947 the World Health Organisation initiated a worldwide network to monitor the changes that occur in influenza viruses and to update the formulation of influenza vaccines. This network now involves over 100 national influenza centres worldwide, and four Collaborating Centres (located in Atlanta USA; London UK; Melbourne Australia; and Tokyo Japan) which analyse viruses from around the world to provide information for vaccine updating. The information generated by this network is available on the WHO FluNet website.
The Vaccines:
The influenza vaccines currently used in most parts of the world are prepared from influenza virus which has been highly purified and then inactivated. In most cases, the virus is then broken apart chemically to produce what are known as split-product vaccines and, in some cases, further purified by removal of some of the virus components to give purified sub-unit vaccines. Because of the inactivation proocess and the disruption of the virus, the vaccines cannot cause infection or influenza symptoms. When injected however, the body’s immune system recognizes the fragments of virus as foreign and responds by producing antibodies which will prevent or modify an infection with strains similar to those in the vaccine.
The cost to your Business:
Absenteeism from work due influenza has been estimated to cost Australian businesses more that $2.5 billion per year due to absenteeism. In a severe outbreak it can have a massive impact on individual businesses’ productivity and financial performance.
Vaccination is the most effective protection for influenza, and a timely vaccination program may significantly reduce absenteeism from upper respiratory illness (by 43% or more), resulting in improved productivity, lifting of staff morale and leading to a happier and healthier workforce.
A major study has shown that employees provided with an influenza vaccination prior to a mild Flu season realised savings greater than four and a half times the cost of vaccination. (Costs included cost of vaccine, administering the vaccine; time spent being vaccinated; and lost time associated with any side effects).
The Vaccine:
The formulation of influenza vaccines for use in Australia is determined each year by the Australian Influenza Vaccine Committee based on information and recommendations from the WHO.
Influenza Vaccine Composition 2009
Southern Hemisphere/Australia
The formulation of influenza vaccines for use in Australia is determined each year by the Australian Influenza Vaccine Committee based on information and recommendations from the WHO.
Following recommendations from the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Australian Influenza Vaccine Committee (AIVC), the influenza vaccine for the Australian 2009 influenza season contains the following three virus strains: 1, 2
- A (H1N1): an A/Brisbane/59/2007 (H1N1) - like strain,
- A (H3N2): an A/Brisbane/10/2007 (H3N2) - like strain,
- B: a B/Florida/4/2006 - like strain,
References:
1. World Health Organization Recommended composition of influenza virus vaccines for use in the 2009 southern hemisphere influenza season Accessed at:
http://www.who.int/csr/disease/influenza/recommendations2009south/en/index.html
2. Therapeutic Good Administration, Australian Influenza Vaccine Committee (AIVC) AIVC recommendations for the composition of influenza vaccine for 2009 Accessed at: http://www.tga.gov.au/committee/aivc.htm
Content Updated 25 November 2008
Timing of the Vaccination Programme:
The recommended time for the Vaccination Programme is well before winter, usually from late February to May (earlier for cold climate areas) bearing in mind that it can take up to two weeks after vaccination for protection against influenza to be developed, and that protection is highest for the first few months.
Let Workforce Health Assessors plan and implement your vaccination program for 2009.
WHA will come to your workplace to ensure that there is minimum disruption to your business.
Contact us on 1300 552 722 to discuss your needs and allow us to prepare and quote on a hassle free programme.
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