VICTORIAN councils and other immunisation providers have been told to prioritise the most vulnerable as demand for flu vaccines skyrockets across the state.
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It comes as councils and pharmacists encounter shortages, with some running out of doses.
A Department of Health and Human Services spokesperson said strong demand for flu vaccinations was not unexpected given last year’s flu season, which was one of the worst in Victoria’s history.
“For this reason we have asked our vaccination providers, including council run programs, to prioritise flu vaccine for the most vulnerable in the community and those eligible for free vaccines as part of the National Immunisation Program or through the state-based six month to under five group,” they said.
“All councils should have received vaccines for their program from the beginning of May."
The Campaspe Shire Council last week postponed its flu immunisation program after running out of stock, which it hoped would be replenished by the end of the month.
Two Bendigo pharmacies also said their suppliers were struggling to keep up with demand.
It was a similar story in the state’s south-west, where The Warrnambool Standard reported a number of pharmacies had exhausted supplies and were awaiting more.
Australia’s acting chief medical officer Tony Hobbs said record numbers of vaccines had been brought into the country this year.
That included 5.1 million doses of seasonal influenza vaccines through the National Immunisation Program.
“Nationally, this represents almost a 10 per cent increase than any other year for NIP vaccines,” Dr Hobbs said.
The Therapeutic Goods Administration had released 9.6 million doses of influenza vaccines across the NIP, state programs and the private market.
Dr Hobbs said the national Department of Health was working closely with states and territories to monitor availability of vaccines. It was also working with companies to ensure more vaccines were brought to Australia.
“The Chief Medical Officer has been tasked with ensuring as much vaccine is brought into the country as possible,” he said.
Data shows it was not just young and old affected
Victorian health department data* tracking notified cases of influenza showed last year the highest number of cases by age were for those aged five- to nine-years-of-age, with 4650 cases, followed by those aged zero- to four-years-of-age at 3941 cases.
There were also more than 3000 cases in those aged 85 or older.
However, it showed that cases were dispersed across a wide range of age groups, with those aged 35-years to 50-years also badly affected.
Barwon South West
Corangamite – 2018: Year To Date 7; 2017: 193 Highest affected age groups 0-4 (16), 45-49 (14), 55-59 (17); 2016: 90; 2015: 36
Glenelg – 2018: YTD 7; 2017: 45 Highest affected age groups 0-4 (5), 55-59 (5); 2016: 38; 2015: 27
Moyne – 2018: YTD 6 2017: 127 Highest affected age groups 10-14 (19), 15-19 (15); 2016: 58; 2015: 68
Southern Grampians – 2018: YTD 2; 2017: 211 Highest affected age groups 5-9 (17), 10-14 (15), 15-19 (14), 40-44 (15), 45-49 (18), 85+ (21); 2016: 23; 2015: 20
Warrnambool – 2018: YTD 1; 2017: 261 Highest affected age groups 0-4 (18), 5-9 (25), 50-54 (20), 55-59 (20), 85+ (21); 2016: 83; 2015: 110
Grampians
Ararat – 2018: YTD 1; 2017: 147 Highest affected age groups 5-9 (19), 70-74 (13), 85+ (13); 2016: 12; 2015: 12
Ballarat – 2018: YTD 22; 2017: 517 Highest affected age groups 5-9 (38), 10-14 (29), 35-39 (28), 40-44 (31), 45-49 (33), 60-64 (38), 65-69 (30), 70-74 (36), 85+ (42); 2016: 131; 2015: 157
Golden Plains – 2018: YTD 12; 2017: 134 Highest affected age groups 5-9 (14), 45-49 (16), 60-64 (17); 2016: 35; 2015: 43
Hepburn – 2018: YTD 6; 2017: 132 Highest affected age groups 40-44 (10), 45-49 (12), 50-54 (10), 60-64 (15); 2016: 37; 2015: 63
Horsham – 2018: YTD 2; 2017: 34 Highest affected age groups 25-29 (4), 85+ (4); 2016: 20; 2015: 8
Northern Grampians – 2018: YTD 0; 2017: 27 Highest affected age groups 85+ (8); 2016: 4; 2015: 4
West Wimmera – 2018: YTD 0; 2017: 33; Highest affected age groups 85+ (9); 2016: 1; 2015: 2
Hume
Wodonga – 2018: YTD 12; 2017: 284 Highest affected age groups 0-4 (25), 20-24 (25), 5-9 (22), 15-19 (23); 2016: 122; 2015: 157
Wangaratta – 2018: YTD 6; 2017: 256 Highest affected age groups 50-54 (17), 55-59 (26), 85+ (48); 2016: 47; 2015: 156
Indigo – 2018: YTD 3; 2017: 68 Highest affected age groups 45-49 (7), 50-54 (13) 55-59 (7); 2016: 28; 2015: 35
Moira – 2018: YTD 3; 2017: 176 Highest affected age groups 5-9 (15), 45-49 (13), 85+ (15); 2016: 23; 2015: 28
Towong – 2018: YTD 2; 2017: 27 Highest affected age groups 0-4 (4), 80-84 (4); 2016: 22; 2015: 21
Loddon Mallee
Buloke – 2018: YTD 1; 2017: 21 Highest affected age group 45-49 (3); 2016: 2; 2015: 6
Campaspe – 2018: YTD 6; 2017: 187 Highest affected age group 5-9 (19), 40-44 (15), 65-69 (15), 85+ (22); 2016: 45; 2015: 50
Central Goldfields – 2018: YTD 2; 2017: 45 Highest affected age group 35-39 (6), 75-79 (6); 2016: 18; 2105: 6
Greater Bendigo – 2018: YTD 17; 2017: 487 Highest affected age groups 15-19 (26), 45-49 (26), 55-59 (33), 60-64 (32), 65-69 (31), 80-84 (46), 85+ (58); 2016: 67; 2105: 205
Macedon Ranges – 2018: YTD 17; 2017: 574 Highest affected age groups 5-9 (60), 35-39 (38), 40-44 (42), 45-49 (53), 50-54 (47), 55-59 (44); 2016: 104; 2015: 165
Mount Alexander – 2018: YTD 4; 2017: 70 Highest affected age groups 45-49 (6), 85+ (9); 2016: 27; 2015: 44
* Data related to notifications received by the department and did not necessarily reflect the true incidence of the disease. Data presented by residential location did not necessarily indicate where infection was acquired.
Tom O'Callaghan
I grew up in Bendigo and I want to tell your stories.
I grew up in Bendigo and I want to tell your stories.
