COORDINARE is working to increase flu vaccination rates and to prevent unnecessary hospitalisations, in partnership with the health workforce and the local community. 

Free flu shots are available from general practices and pharmacies until 17 July 2022. NSW Health has extended the free flu vaccine timeframe amid concerns vaccination rates are still not where they should be. 

Dianne Kitcher, CEO of COORDINARE - South Eastern NSW PHN's said the latest local data shows only one in four children aged under five has had a flu shot, while the figures are even lower for kids aged five to 15. 

“It’s really worrying that only 17 per cent of children under five have received a flu shot in some Local Government Areas in our region. Children younger than five years of age are at high risk of getting severe influenza infections that require hospitalisation,” she said. 

Ms Kitcher is encouraging families to book in for a free flu shot during the school holidays.  

Children under five years of age can receive a flu vaccine at a general practice, anyone five years and older can visit a pharmacy. Children under nine years receiving their influenza vaccination for the first time require two doses of vaccine, four weeks apart. 

Data released by NSW Health highlights the percentage of people aged 6 months and over who have received an influenza vaccine in each Local Government Area (LGA). You can see the flu vaccination rate for SE NSW LGA's in the below graph.  

 

Also see the NSW Health data for the percentage of children aged 6 months < 15 years you have received the influenza vaccination:

 

For all NSW flu vaccine uptake figures by age group and local government area, visit the NSW Health Website.

Community, Health alert, Illawarra Shoalhaven, Immunisation, Prevention initiatives, Southern NSW