The decision whether to vaccinate or not is such an important one, and one that could potentially save your child’s life. Your GP should be your first port of call for any questions you might have. If looking online, please make sure that the websites you visit are reputable and have research-based, scientifically valid information.
This booklet from the Department of Health and Ageing debunks some of the more common myths surrounding vaccinations: Immunisations- Myths and Realities
Pregnancy
- Influenza can cause miscarriage/stillbirth, and can put the mother’s life at risk, even if she is normally very healthy outside of pregnancy
- The flu vaccine is safe for both mother and baby in pregnancy
- It is highly recommended for pregnant women as it not only decreases the risk of miscarriage/stillbirth, but the antibodies will be passed through the placenta, giving the baby a line of defence against those strains of the flu once born.
Children
- Children can receive the flu vaccine from 6 months of age. Fluvax is not licensed for children under 5 years of age, other brands should be used in this age bracket. Fluvax is also not recommended in children between 5 and 9 years old due to the risk of high fever.
Useful links:
Answers to frequently asked questions about the flu shot:
http://www.immunise.health.gov.au/internet/immunise/publishing.nsf/Content/immunise-influenza
The Cochrane Summaries are independent and provide a very detailed analysis of assessment
– Vaccines for preventing influenza in healthy adults:
http://summaries.cochrane.org/CD001269/vaccines-to-prevent-influenza-in-healthy-adults
– Impact of haemophilus influenza type B (Hib) and viral influenza vaccinations in pregnancy for improving maternal, neonatal and infant health outcomes
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/14651858.CD009982/abstract
** Learn about the Whooping cough vaccination
** Learn about the Meningicoccal vaccination
** Your immunisation FAQ answered here
