The Australian Health Protection Principal Committee recommended that visitors and staff (including visiting workers) who have not been vaccinated against influenza should not be permitted to enter residential aged care facilities (RACFs) after 1 May 2020.
To assist in completing RACF influenza immunisations as soon as possible, Queensland Health has provided the below information for GPs who administer flu vaccinations to residential aged care facility (RACF) staff and residents.
- Queensland Health’s Immunisation Program supplies National Immunisation Program (NIP) funded influenza vaccine to immunisation providers for persons eligible under the NIP, including persons aged 65 years and older.
- The Immunisation Program has sufficient supply of the NIP vaccine recommended for persons aged 65 years and older: Fluad Quad®.
- General Practitioners (GPs) who provide immunisation services to Aged Care Facilities and who are registered to receive NIP vaccine can order Fluad Quad® from the Immunisation Program.
- Orders for Fluad Quad® can be placed using the online order form which can also be found on the Queensland Health website. Please add a note stating that the vaccine is for residents of Aged Care Facilities.
- GPs who provide immunisation services to Aged Care Facilities are encouraged to use their on-hand stock of Fluad Quad®, if available, before placing orders for additional Fluad Quad®.
- NIP influenza vaccine is also available for residents aged 65 years and younger who have medical conditions which increase their risk of influenza disease complications. This includes people with cardiac disease, chronic respiratory conditions, chronic neurological conditions, immunocompromising conditions, diabetes and other metabolic conditions, renal disease, haematological disorders.