Immunisation

What you should know 2 The difference between immunisation and vaccination Benefits of immunisation National Immunisation Program Myths and realities about immunisation Influenza vaccine and its benefit and effectiveness Your role

Immunisation and vaccination Immunisation process of making a person immune or resistant to infectious disease Vaccination administration of a vaccine Vaccine material used for immunisation –inactivated or weakened virus or bacteria interacts with the body’s immune system

Benefits of immunisation Protects –the individual –the community Reasons –reduces illness, disability and death –controls, prevents and eradicates disease –cost effective health strategy –accessible health strategy

National Immunisation Program

Under immunisation Individual immunisation levels are incomplete Reasons for under immunisation: –vaccine safety concerns –difficulty accessing healthcare services –socioeconomic situation Can put high community vaccination levels at risk

Missing out on immunisation Family unit consisting of: –parents under 25 years –a single parent –more than one child –parents who are unemployed, on low income or with very high or very low education levels Migrant families Families who move frequently Young adults Healthy adults People in rural and urban areas

Effectiveness of vaccines No vaccine is 100% effective Risk from disease is much higher than risk from vaccine Depends on –age of the person receiving the vaccine –person’s ability to form an immune response –similarity between circulating virus strains and the vaccine

Myths and realities about vaccines Vaccines aren’t safe Children get too many vaccines Adults don’t need vaccines My child has a cold, so they shouldn’t get immunised Vaccines have too many side effects Immunisation causes autism

Influenza vaccine 3 strains of virus –swine flu (H1N1) is included 2 weeks for protection to develop Require yearly vaccine Available free on NIP schedule for certain groups Myth: I can get the flu from the vaccine.

Benefits of influenza vaccine Protects individual against influenza Reduces –the chance of spreading influenza to others –the number of deaths and hospital admissions due to influenza –the risk of complications from influenza in ‘at-risk’ people –illness in healthy people –workplace absenteeism

In-pharmacy influenza vaccine service Conducted in-pharmacy Vaccine administered by a trained immuniser Pharmacist unable to provide vaccinations Pre-vaccine screening Require consumer consent Provided in a private screened area Wait 15-minutes after vaccine Provide information PSA immunisation services in pharmacy - guidelines

Immunisation – your role Maintain a commitment to immunisation Answer consumer concerns –vaccine safety –reactions and side effects –current immunisation issues Provide consumers with educational material Identify high-risk individuals Collaborate with other healthcare providers