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Influenza Letter for Community Care

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Dear Community Care Provider

Immunisation for Seasonal Influenza 2012

Influenza is an acute, highly infectious respiratory viral infection and is a notifiable disease in all states and territories if laboratory confirmed. As an organisation that provides services to older people living in the community, I encourage you to protect your staff and clients from serious or life-threatening illnesses associated with influenza. Clients that are particularly at risk of developing such complications are those over 65 years of age, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders aged 15 years and over, pregnant women and individuals with chronic diseases. The influenza vaccine is provided free of charge to these at-risk groups.

To prevent and manage influenza outbreaks, you should ensure that your staff and clients practice good hand hygiene and infection control measures. Visitors and family members should be advised if they are unwell, or showing influenza-like symptoms, not to visit your clients until they are free from symptoms. All staff that display influenza-like symptoms should also be advised to stay away from work until they are symptom-free or are cleared by their doctor to return to work.

The 2012 seasonal influenza vaccines contain the same trivalent influenza strains as used in the 2011 influenza vaccine. However, people who received the vaccine any time in 2011 still need to be revaccinated in 2012 as immunity following vaccination is not long term. To promote uptake of the vaccine, the Department of Health and Ageing has developed posters and fact sheets for health professionals and brochures for consumers, which will be sent to you separately.

Further information or copies of the seasonal influenza communications material for 2012 will be available for download at the Immunise Australia Program website. Alternatively you may contact the Immunise Australia Information Line on 1800 671 811.

For advice about prevention and control of influenza in community aged care services, you may refer to the Influ-Info Kit for Community Aged Care. Copies of this kit are available from the website.

The four essential interventions for the prevention and management of influenza outbreaks in the community are:

1. Vaccination of clients and staff
2. Application of appropriate infection control practices
3. Outbreak recognition and management (including laboratory confirmation)
4. Policy development and planning to support vaccination and infection control

Are you prepared to prevent and manage an outbreak of flu?

• Do you have an influenza vaccination program to encourage high rates of vaccinations for your clients?
• Are client vaccination records updated regularly?
• Do you have an influenza vaccination program for your staff?
• Are staff vaccination records updated regularly?
• Do you have an updated infection control plan in place?
• Do you know who to contact for advice in case of an outbreak of influenza?
• Do staff understand and carry out correct hand hygiene and infection control practices?

Yours sincerely

Authorised for electronic transmission

Dr Susan Hunt RN PhD
Senior Nurse Adviser
Office of Aged Care Quality and Compliance
April 2012