Immunisation: Influenza

The 2011 seasonal influenza vaccine contains pandemic A(H1N1), seasonal A(H3N2) and B strains. While these are the same strains used in the 2010 influenza vaccine, Australians are still encouraged to receive this year’s vaccine as immunity lasts only one year. Healthcare workers are amongst the groups targeted this year for immunisation. The Government Web site on immunisation has good information  and includes commonly asked questions along with links to other relevant sites.

Under the National Immunisation Program,  the influenza vaccine is funded for the following groups:

• All persons aged 65 years and over;
• All Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 15 years and over;
• All pregnant women at any stage during pregnancy;
• Individuals at six months of age or older with conditions predisposing them to severe influenza:
  - Cardiac disease including cyanotic congenital heart disease, coronary artery disease, congestive heart failure;
  - Chronic respiratory conditions including suppurative lung disease, bronchiectasis, cystic fibrosis, cronic obstructive pulmonary disease, chronic emphysema, severe asthma (defined as requiring frequent hospital visits);
  - Chronic neurological conditions including mutiple sclerosis, spinal cord injuries, seizure disorders, or other neuromuscular disorders;
  - Other chronic illnesses requiring regular medical follow up including diabetes mellitus, chronic metebolic diseases, chronic renal failure, haemoglobinopathies;
  - Impaired immunitiey including HIV infection, malignancy and chronic steroid use;
  - Children aged six months to 10 years on long term aspirin therapy.

Influenza vaccine is also strongly recommended (but not funded) for the following people.

• residents of nursing homes and residential care facilities who do not meet the criteria above; 
• homeless people and those providing care to them;
• health care workers;
• anyone who works in a nursing home or long term care facility;
• anyone who lives in a household with a person who is in a high risk category;
• people providing essential services eg. police, ambulance;\
• travellers.

Check out Q Health for more info on  the influenza vaccine for this year.

Radiation Fears: Sites to Access for Information!

Australians were shocked by the  visual images of the  earthquake and tsunami that struck on 11 March 2011 and damaged a number of nuclear reactors on the east coast of Japan resulting in  the release of radioactive contaminants to the atmosphere.

Regardless of the  area of healthcare in which you work, you may  be asked questions by your family, friends or clients about radiation.The Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA) provides  interesting information via their Media Release Update  and  ARPANSA web site.
People are also being encouraged to  visit http://www.smarttraveller.gov.au/ and read the travel advice and the travel bulletin for Australians in or returning from Japan.
Addtionally,  on 3rd of April 2011  the    website  has information  regarding   
.Advice on exposure to radiation
.Advice for Australians remaining in Japan on food and water precautions, the availability and use of potassium iodide tablets and on appropriate sheltering from radiation if required
According to the website;
 .ARPANSA and the Department of Health and Ageing are recommending , as a precautionary measure, that Australians within an 80 km zone from the Fukushima nuclear power plant move out of the area.
.Australians returning home from Japan are highly unlikely to be contaminated or exposed to significant radiation and will not require checks for radioactivity. However, if people wish to seek medical advice they should contact their local GP.
.ARPANSA and the Chief Medical Officer advise that iodine tablets are only required when exposed to substantial radiation doses from radioactive iodine.
There is no current need for those returning from Japan or those in Japan outside the Exclusion Zone to consider the use of potassium iodide tablets at this time.