Why young Australians are being urged to get their flu shot while waiting for the Covid vaccine amid jab rollout setback
- Royal Australian College of General Practitioners made recommendation
- Said the best time to get the vaccine is before the start of the flu season
- Twin rollouts of COVID and flu vaccines are an ‘enormous logistical exercise’
Young people are being urged to get their flu shot as they wait to get the COVID-19 vaccine.
The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners on Wednesday recommended all people over the age of six months get their annual influenza vaccination when it becomes available this month.
They said the best time to get the vaccine is before the start of the flu season, which usually peaks from June to September.
Young people are being urged to get their flu shot as they wait to get the COVID-19 vaccine (stock)
RACGP President Dr Karen Price described the twin rollouts of COVID and influenza vaccines as an ‘enormous logistical exercise’, especially as the two vaccines are not recommended to be given at the same time.
‘I have every confidence that general practice is up to the task, vaccines are business as usual for GPs,’ she said in a statement.
‘But we do need a different approach to get the job done.’
The RACGP is urging people in later phases of the COVID vaccine rollout to get their flu shot as soon as it is available, and then get their COVID vaccine.
‘If you’re young and healthy you might think you should be standing back and waiting for the most vulnerable patients to get their flu shots first,’ Dr Price said.
‘In fact, we want these patients to do the opposite. Book an appointment with your GP to get your flu vaccine as soon as it becomes available, and then get your COVID-19 vaccine when you can.
‘Patients who are more vulnerable, including those who are older, should prioritise getting their COVID-19 vaccine as soon as it is offered to them.’
Doctor in a protective suit taking a throat and nasal swab from a patient to test for possible coronavirus infection
More than 4500 general practices are taking part in Phase 1b of the COVID vaccine rollout, which has been thrown into disarray after a change in medical advice for the AstraZeneca jab.
The federal government had planned for every Australian to be offered at least their first dose of the vaccine by the end of October, with most receiving the AstraZeneca jab.
But that timeline has been scrapped after the federal government was advised those under 50 should not get the vaccine because of blood clotting concerns.
The influenza vaccine and COVID vaccine should be administered at least 14-days apart, according to clinical advice.
