IPC nurse specialist, Sue Lovell-Smart, is in charge of immunisation at Blayney Hospital.

“A new flu vaccine is made each season,” she said.

“This season’s vaccine protects against swine flu, Californian and Brisbane flu.”

Ms Lovell-Smart said that people with chronic illnesses, frontline healthcare workers, people over 65 and Aboriginal People over 55 are especially at risk of developing severe illness from both seasonal influenza and pandemic influenza.

“When we immunise it takes the body three weeks to identify the foreign body and produce its own antibodies,” she said.

“After three weeks it can fight.”

Ms Lovell-Smart said that over 50 per cent of the staff at Blayney Hospital have been immunised.

“It's important to immunise everyone not just the nurses,” she said.

The Greater Western Area Health Service (GWAHS) is urging people to vaccinate against seasonal flu following the Australian Government’s temporarily suspension of seasonal flu vaccination for children aged five years and under.

The temporary suspension is a precautionary measure while the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) reviews data from Western Australia where an increase in fever and febrile convulsions in children aged 5 years and under has occurred following seasonal flu vaccination.

Dr Therese Jones, Manager Population Health, for GWAHS said that the targeted at-risk groups who can access seasonal influenza vaccine for free have been broadened.

“All Aboriginal people 15 years and over, pregnant women, the elderly and all people six months and over with chronic diseases [taking into account the temporary suspension for children aged 5 years and under] can be vaccinated for free” Dr Jones said.

The Australian Government has said there do not appear to be any implications for the swine flu vaccine, which can continue to be administered to people aged six months and older.

“If you’ve had Pandemic H1N1 vaccination, you are still able to have the seasonal influenza vaccination, though children under 10 years need to wait one month following the first dose,” Dr Jones said.

“Vaccination will be available throughout the flu season, but the sooner you get it, the better protection you will have.”

Dr Jones said practising flu etiquette and hand washing was also important to help reduce transmission of influenza amongst the community.

“Cover your coughs and sneezes with a tissue and put used tissues in the bin. Wash your hands with soap and running water for 10 seconds after coughing, sneezing or blowing your nose, and before touching other people or shared objects. Stay home and avoid close contact with others if you are unwell,” she said.

Information about the 2010 seasonal influenza vaccine is available from the NSW Health immunisation program webpage http://www.health.nsw.gov.au/publichealth/immunisation/index.asp