NOTE: This information has been superseded by more up-to-date information regarding seasonal influenza vaccines.
Vaccination is the best way to reduce the impact of the flu in the community.
The flu virus can spread quickly in residential aged care facilities and the elderly are more vulnerable to the flu virus.
Disease control experts recommend flu vaccination every year for all people residing and working in residential aged care facilities. This includes:
- residents
- healthcare workers
- staff
- volunteers.
This will provide the best protection for themselves and others.
The Australian Government is working to mandate that all Australian Government subsidised residential aged care providers offer an influenza vaccination program to their staff. This is in response to last year’s influenza season.
If you work in residential aged care, talk to your employer, doctor or vaccination provider to arrange your flu shot.
For information about best practice influenza infection control in residential aged care, see the Communicable Diseases Network Australia (CDNA) national guidelines.
If you have any enquiries about the mandatory Flu Vaccination Program for residential aged care services, please contact the department at qualityagedcare@health.gov.au.