The ISG's 2009 influenza season media launch was held on March 24 at the Sydney Children's Hospital, and drew considerable media attention.

This year's theme was around vaccination of children and was aptly titled "Influenza In Children Is Not Child's Play".

While it is well known that influenza is a serious illness for the elderly, many parents and carers are unaware that influenza is a common childhood disease that can rapidly lead to hospitalisation.

"The thing about influenza is that it may come on quite suddenly. Parents should be on the look-out for symptoms including irritability and a high temperature - or in more severe cases symptoms like very fast breathing or febrile convulsions. Some young childen with influenza can look so unwell when they arrive at hospital that a spinal tap - otherwise known as a lumbar puncture - is performed to rule out meningitis. Much of this might be prevented if children were vaccinated against influenza each year".

"Children are one of the main spreaders of influenza, particularly within households. Therefore vaccintion is not only important to protect the health of the child, but also because of the key role they play in transmission, particularly if they are in contact with at-risk people or older adults".

(Professor Robert Booy, Professor of Paediatrics, University of Sydney).

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Radio 2SM staff receiving their flu shots