Immunisations

Influenza or ‘the flu’ is a highly contagious respiratory illness, that’s caused by a family of influenza viruses. You may have heard of bird flu or swine flu, but there are three main types of flu with lots of subtypes.

Typically, Influenza A and B types cause the majority of infections in Australia.

What are the symptoms?

Most people know what a cold feels like, and the flu can be similar but often more intense and prolonged.

People typically get some or all of the following symptoms:

• Fever and chills
• Cough
• Sore throat
• Runny nose or stuffy nose
• Muscle aches
• Joint pains
• Headaches
• Extreme fatigue
• Nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea

For some people, the symptoms can last longer than a week. People can get very mild versions of these symptoms, especially if they have been previously immunised or carry some immunity from a previous infection.

However, it is important to seek medical attention if you’re quickly becoming worse, or if any of the following symptoms occur:

• Shortness of breath, or rapid breathing
• Chest pain
• Confusion or sudden dizziness
• Persistent vomiting

How is it spread?

It is mainly spread by droplets from an infected person, which hang in the air after sneezing or coughing. It can also be spread when touching a surface where the droplets have landed.

That’s why it’s important to sneeze or cough into a tissue, throw it away, and wash your hands immediately and often.

What’s tricky is that people can be infectious even before they display any symptoms.

Adults are the most infectious during the first 3-5 days of illness, while children remain infectious for 7-10 days.

Who is at risk?

Everyone is theoretically at risk, there are some groups of people who are at particularly high risk of complications – these people are eligible for free influenza vaccination.

• All individuals aged 65 years and older
• All Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 6 months to 5 years or aged 15 years and older
• Pregnant women

Also, people aged 6 months and over with certain medical conditions are eligible – these conditions include:

• Cardiac disease, including cyanotic congenital heart disease, coronary artery disease and congestive heart failure
• Chronic respiratory conditions, including suppurative lung disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and severe asthma
• Other chronic illnesses requiring regular medical follow-up or hospitalisation in the previous year, including diabetes mellitus, chronic metabolic diseases, chronic renal failure, and haemoglobinopathies
• Chronic neurological conditions that impact respiratory function, including multiple sclerosis, spinal cord injuries, and seizure disorders
• Impaired immunity, including HIV, malignancy and chronic steroid use
• Children aged 6 months to 10 years on long-term aspirin therapy.

How is it prevented?

I’m glad you asked.

Influenza vaccination each year before winter begins is the best way to prevent influenza.

There are trivalent (three strain) and quadrivalent (four-strain) versions of the vaccine available, and GS Health only stocks the quadrivalent vaccination for added protection levels. If you’d like to book in to get your flu vaccine – just select Flu Vaccine as the appointment type online or through the HotDoc app – or call our lovely reception staff.

Anyone aged 6 months or older is eligible, and since children are at higher risk of complications, and also are powerful transmitters, it’s good to make sure they are immunised.

Also, simple measures can stop the transmission by remembering to:

• Cover your face when you cough or sneeze and throw used tissues in a rubbish bin.
• Wash your hands thoroughly and often. Wash hands for at least 10 seconds, especially after coughing, sneezing or blowing your nose, or use an alcohol-based hand rub.
• Stay at home until you’re well. Wait at least 24 hours after your fever resolves so that you are unlikely to infect other people. Keep sick children away from school and other activities.
• Call ahead to see a doctor. If you think you may have influenza and you need to see a doctor, call first so the clinic can take precautions to reduce the risk to other people.

How is it treated?

Most influenza symptoms are managed with simple measures, such as ensuring enough rest (this is scientifically proven to boost your immune response), maintaining your fluids, and using simple analgesia to control your symptoms.

Nasal congestion and stuffiness respond quite well to nasal rinses, have a look at our page on triple nasal therapy.

For people who are at high risk of complications, or have rather severe symptoms early, there is a specific medication that can reduce the severity and duration of symptoms.

However, this must be started in the first 48 hours of symptoms. So, if you’re worried, you’re quite unwell – book in to see us as soon as possible.

Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) is a highly transmissible virus, spread through different forms of sexual contact.

Many different types of HPV target different parts of the body, and there are approximately 40 types of HPV that affect the genital area and spread from person to person through sexual contact.

HPV types 16 and 18 cause 70% of cervical cancer in females, and 90% of HPV-related cancer in males. Types 31, 33, 45, 52, and 58 are responsible for a further 20% of cervical cancer in females, and a further 5% of HPV-related cancer in males.

Types 6 and 11 cause approximately 95% of genital warts.

Symptoms

Most people that have an infection with HPV are asymptomatic. Which means you can pass it on without knowing. It is estimated that 4 out of 5 Australians will have an HPV infection at some point in their lives.

HPV is responsible for genital warts also.

Prevention

The HPV vaccine provides highly effective protection against the development of HPV-related cancers and diseases.

In Australia, there are two types currently available, a 4-strain vaccine (G******l – strains 6, 11, 16 and 18) and the national immunisation program provides the 4-strain variety for free in schools to both males and females aged 12-13 years old. From 2018, this will be replaced by a 9-strain HPV vaccine for all school-aged children and will also be privately available for those not covered by this program. This will protect against strains 6, 11, 16, 18, 31, 33, 45, 52 and 58.

The best time to get vaccinated to provide the most protection is before becoming sexually active. However, unless previously diagnosed with HPV-related conditions, it is difficult to know what strains people have had.

There can be additional protection from having the vaccination even if you are older, have been sexually active, or even had a proven HPV infection in the past.

For men who have sex with men, this can help reduce the risk of anal cancer by preventing infection of the strains responsible. For the 4 strain vaccine, these are strains 16 and 18, and for the 9 strain vaccine, these are strains 16, 18, 31, 33, 45, 52, and 58.

The risk of anal cancer for men who have sex with men is 40 times higher than the general population, and for men who have sex with men who are HIV positive, it is 100 times greater. So, make sure you’ve had all three shots to reduce your risk.

Dosage

The course of the 4 strain and the 9 strain vaccine are 3 injections given at 0, 2 and 6 months.