A GP's guide to the flu shot: Doctor reveals everything anxious parents need to know about children getting the vaccination over winter
- A doctor explains everything you need to know about children getting flu shot
- Dr Preeya Alexander has been bombarded with questions in lead up to flu season
- Government recommends everyone over six months gets the flu shot every year
- Learn more about how to help people impacted by COVID
An Australian doctor has explained everything you need to know about children getting the flu shot over winter - as health authorities fear an influenza outbreak could strain hospitals which are already overrun with coronavirus patients.
Dr Preeya Alexander, a general practitioner from Melbourne, has been bombarded with questions from anxious parents in the lead up to the influenza season.
My child has an egg allergy - can they still have the flu shot? Can the flu shot give me the flu? What if my kid under nine years of age is getting their first ever flu shot? These are just some of the questions she answers.
Dr Preeya Alexander (pictured) has explained everything you need to know about children getting the flu shot over winter
The GP - who publishes medical insight on her Instagram The Wholesome Doctor - advised if a child under nine years of age is having their first ever vaccination in their life, they will need two doses of the shot for the same flu season.
'At least four weeks apart - this is to ensure the right immune response is mounted. After the initial year - only one dose per year is needed,' Dr Alexander said.
Dr Alexander said kids and adults with an egg allergy can be safely vaccinated against the flu.
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The influenza vaccine is grown in eggs but the traces of egg protein that remain after the vaccine is made are extremely tiny. The Department of Health says it's very rare for people with egg allergy to experience adverse effects such as hives, wheezing, vomiting or abnormal pain after getting the flu shot.
One common misconception Dr Alexander addressed was whether getting the flu shot can give you the flu.
'The flu vaccine does not give you the flu - it is not a live vaccine, it contains inactivated virus and so cannot give you influenza,' she said.
'You may experience aches after the vaccine, or a slight fever, but it's short lived and not the flu.'
The general practitioner from Melbourne has been bombarded with questions from anxious parents in the lead up to the influenza season
The Australian government recommends that everyone over the age of six months old has the flu shot every year.
Dr Alexander said the best time to get the annual flu shot in Australia is in April - no earlier or later - and will last three to four months before its effectiveness declines.
'The influenza vaccine needs to be given yearly preceding influenza season ideally - if you choose to do it. The vaccine and the strains it covers varies year to year and the effectiveness wears off after three to four months,' she said.
'Any child over six months can receive the flu vaccine as long as they are not allergic to the vaccine or a component.'
In Australia, children aged under five and over six months can receive a government funded vaccine so parents don't need to pay for it.
All Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged over six months are eligible for a government funded vaccine too.
For kids over the age of five, parents are required to pay for it privately, which usually costs around $20.
'Kids in this age group are at increased risk of influenza complications like pneumonia and so reducing risk of influenza with the vaccine is strongly recommended,' she said.
For children over five who have a chronic medical condition such as asthma or diabetes are qualified for a government funded vaccine.
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