How long does the flu vaccine last? Shouldn't they start giving them now?

[waltzingparrot]

Surely to get through the extra numbers they want to vaccinate, they need to start asap, particularly while the r rate is reasonably low.

Wouldn't it be better to utilise community centres, school sports halls etc to give it. All those over 50s descending on doctors surgeries concentrated in just a few weeks doesn't sound sensible .

Because it’s not available yet, usually becomes available in September, but sometimes supply is delayed by batch failures. The vaccines are made from Feb/March of the same year, based on the circulating viruses in the Southern Hemisphere, the manufacturing and testing processes take about six months.

Yeah they need to wait for flu season in Australia, etc so they know what strains are about, then then develop the vaccine from that. It's not justa case of using the same vaccine every year.

Boots and Superdrug do them too (free if eligible), so people won’t all be descending on surgeries.

Wouldn't it be better to utilise community centres, school sports halls etc to give it. All those over 50s descending on doctors surgeries concentrated in just a few weeks doesn't sound sensible.

I'm in NZ and they had drive through clinics here for the 'flu vaccinations - it seemed to work well.

They usually start jabs at the start of October, but individual surgeries may start as soon as they receive their supplies (in September, usually)

DC will still be done in schools, assuming they are open

There will be local plans to boost take up led by the public health teams

I like the NZ drive thru idea. Maybe they can use the covid drive thrus. We happen to have a very convenient one five mins up the road; I'm aware they're no so conveniently placed for everyone.

I am slightly worried by how they are going to deliver it this year. My GP surgery have refused to do my B12 injections since Feb, I got syringes off the internet and have been doing it myself. I get the flu jab every year as in a vulnerable group. If they would send me the syringe, I would do it myself. I do not really want to be going out and putting myself at risk, I am in a lockdown area in the North. That is if my GP are going to be doing the jabs, they stopped everything apart from emergencies. Same with the dentist

PosterChild I suspect they're going to be told they have to administer it. This is government policy.

@PosterChild
Unfortunately sending a flu vaccine for people to self administer is not feasible. Firstly the vaccine must be kept at a refrigerated temperature between 2-8 degrees, ideally around 4-6 degrees, so the logistics of maintaining the cold chain would be almost impossible. Secondly the risk of allergic-anaphylactic reaction is greater with a vaccine than with B12, which is a ‘normal constituent’ of the human body IYSWIM.

GPs have been open for immunisations all along

Outs usually does flu jabs as a drop in clinic, but expect it'll need appointments (or perhaps a gazebo in their car park?)