Influenza Vaccine Promotion

Influenza Vaccine Promotion

Stay healthy, stay protected! 💪

The influenza virus doesn’t take a break, but you can stay ahead with a simple shot. 

Visit 📍Pantai Hospital Ampang and get vaccinated today!

Safeguard your health now!

With You Every Step of the Way

At Pantai Hospital Ampang, we offer personalised solutions to support you through every health situation. Our specialist consultants will guide you in making informed decisions to regain your health. Recognizing that every patient is unique, we tailor each solution to align with your individual needs, preferences, and lifestyle.

Contact us today to learn more. Your health matters, and we're here to support you on your path to a healthier and happier life!

Protect yourself from Vaccine preventable Respiratory Illnesses

FAQ/Factsheet on Flu/ Influenza vaccine

• Influenza is caused by infection with the influenza virus and results in respiratory illness. It is a common cause of hospitalisation and death, particularly in those at greater risk of severe disease. 
• Annual influenza vaccination is recommended for all people aged 6 months and over and is available at PHA.

• All currently available influenza vaccines in PHA are inactivated (non-live) and cannot cause influenza. They are safe for people with immunocompromise and pregnant women. 

• Influenza vaccine is recommended in every pregnancy, and it is safe for pregnant women to receive the vaccine at any stage of pregnancy. 

• During pregnancy, maternal antibodies produced from vaccination are transferred from the mother to the baby through the placenta. Maternal vaccination reduces the risk of influenza by around 50% in infants under 6 months who are too young to be vaccinated themselves.

• Influenza vaccine can be co-administered with (i.e. given on the same day as) most other vaccines.

• At PHA, we use the quadrivalent flu vaccine called Vaxigrip Tetra (manufactured by Sanofi Pasteur)

FAQ

1. Who should get influenza/ flu vaccine?
• Pregnant women
• Adults 65 years and older
• Some groups are at a higher risk of influenza-associated complications and are especially recommended to receive an influenza vaccine such as people with chronic health conditions such as asthma, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, kidney disease. 
2. Why should people get vaccinated against the flu?

All influenza vaccines available in PHA are quadrivalent, meaning they contain four inactivated influenza virus strains – two influenza A and two influenza B strains.

• Influenza A (H1N1) virus 
• Influenza A (H3N2) virus and 
• 2 influenza B viruses
3. Why do I need a flu vaccine every year?

A flu vaccine is needed every year for two reasons:

• A person’s immune protection from vaccination declines over time, so an annual vaccine is needed for optimal protection. 
• Flu viruses are constantly changing, flu vaccines are updated with different strains to protect against the viruses that may be most common during the upcoming flu season. 
4. What are the side effectsfrom the flu vaccine? 
•  fever
• tiredness
• muscle aches
• pain, redness or swelling at the injection site.

These side effects can start within a few hours of having your shot. They usually last for 1 to 2 days.

5. Can I get the flu vaccine if I have an egg allergy?

The influenza vaccine is typically grown in chicken’s eggs. But the amount of egg protein that remains in the vaccine is tiny.

The Australasian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy (ASCIA) says both adults and children with egg allergy can be safely vaccinated against the flu.

The risk of anaphylaxis (severe allergic reaction) after vaccination is very low. It’s estimated to affect fewer than 2 people for every 1 million doses.

It’s also rare for people with egg allergy to experience side effects after getting the flu shot, such as hives, wheezing, vomiting or abdominal pain.

If you are concerned, ask your doctor if you (or your child) can be observed for 30 minutes after receiving the vaccine.

6. Some people get the flu despite having had the flu shot — why should I bother?

While the flu vaccine is effective, there are things that affect how well it works. These include:

• your age
• your overall health
• the match between the vaccine and the flu viruses in your community

Unfortunately, the vaccine is not effective in absolutely every case. So, some people may still catch flu after having the flu shot.

Reference: https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/flu-vaccine-faqs