Infuenza Specialist Group

Over two thirds of young Australians at risk of serious influenza complications wrongly believe that good health protects against influenza infection,¹ ISG report warns

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30 April 2008: A new research report, launched today by the Influenza Specialist Group (ISG), reveals that the majority of Australians with underlying medical conditions risk potentially deadly influenza complications, due to common misconceptions about the disease.¹

Dr Alan Hampson, OAM, World Health Organization (WHO) consultant and Chair of the ISG, said that the new research highlighted a significant discrepancy between medical recommendations and the current knowledge and behaviour of vulnerable Australians.

"Over two thirds of surveyed Australians aged 18-64 years who are at risk of serious complications from influenza believe that being fit and healthy offers protection against contracting influenza," said Dr Hampson. "By subscribing to this common influenza myth and not protecting themselves against infection, people are inadvertently putting their health, and maybe even their lives, on the line."

Over 1.2 million Australians under 65 have at least one chronic condition, such as diabetes, asthma or heart disease, which puts them at increased risk of serious complications and even death from influenza.² Current Australian immunisation guidelines recommend annual influenza vaccination to all Australians with underlying risk conditions aged over 6 months,³ as influenza can exacerbate the symptoms of pre-existing illnesses.

"Vaccination is the best way to protect yourself against influenza," said Prof Robert Booy, Director of Research at the National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance of Vaccine Preventable Diseases (NCIRS) at The Children's Hospital at Westmead.

"Given the importance of preventing influenza infection in people with underlying medical conditions, it is worrying that the research shows that almost a third of at-risk Australians surveyed believe that the vaccine can cause influenza - which of course is not true. In fact, the vaccine does not contain any live viruses and therefore cannot cause influenza," Prof Booy added.

According to the ISG research, 55 percent of younger, at-risk Australians disregard, or are unaware of, the current immunisation recommendation, and do not get vaccinated against influenza annually.¹ This finding reaffirms the most recently published Commonwealth Government immunisation survey, which found that less than 50 percent of Australians aged 18-64 years with underlying medical conditions get vaccinated.⁴

Moreover, the research also found that over a third of surveyed at-risk Australians were unaware that there is an increased risk of death from influenza among those with an underlying medical condition, and almost half of respondents underestimated how great the risk was.¹

"Australians with underlying medical conditions often don't consider themselves to be at risk as they often feel fit and healthy," Dr Rod Pearce, SA GP and ISG Board members noted. "However, for people with diabetes, heart disease, a weakened immune system or a lung disease such as asthma, emphysema or chronic bronchitis, influenza can weaken their immune system and compromise their ability to manage their underlying condition."

"While vaccination is the best way of helping protect yourself against influenza, simple measures like regular hand washing and avoiding touching your nose or mouth with unwashed hands will also help to protect you," Prof Booy said.

"If you do become ill with influenza, you can help protect others by staying at home so that you don't spread the virus, or if you have to be in contact with other people ensure you cover your mouth when coughing or sneezing. In addition, there are antiviral medications available on prescription for those who fall ill with influenza. These medications can help limit the effect of influenza if they are taken within the first two days of the onset of symptoms," Prof Booy added.

Based on the new research findings and current vaccination guidelines, the ISG proposes three key strategies for how influenza vaccination uptake rates can be improved in at-risk Australians under 65:

• Increased education regarding the severity of influenza and the importance of vaccination for those at risk;
• Improving the ability of healthcare professionals to easily identify patients at risk of severe influenza complications;
• Making the vaccine more readily accessible to those at risk, e.g. directly through GP surgeries.

"Influenza infections typically start to increase in June, peaking between July and September. As it takes two weeks for full immunity to develop after vaccination, now is the time to get vaccinated against influenza. If you are 65 years of age or over, belong to one of the at-risk groups or just want to protect yourself against contracting influenza, it is important that you speak to your GP now about influenza vaccination," Dr Pearce concluded.

References

1. Influenza and influenza vaccination - saving lives by dispelling common myths among at-risk Australians aged 18-64 years, ISG Report April 2008 Available at: http://www.influenzaspecialistgroup.org.au

2. Colgan S, Tay-Teo K, Shik S, and Carter R. Influenza vaccination for the 'at risk' Australian adults aged between 18 and 64. Part 2 Cost-of-Illness study of current practice and cost analysis of extending vaccination to all at risk Australian adults. Health Economics Group, the University of Melbourne, February 2006

3. The Australian Immunisation Handbook 9th Edition, NHMRC Chapter 3:9

4. 2004 Adult Vaccination Survey AIHW

Content Updated (Tuesday, 29 April 2008)