Dr Margie Danchin is acting head of The Royal Children’s Hospital Immunisation Service, a Senior Research Fellow at the Murdoch Childrens Research Institute and a Senior Fellow within the University of Melbourne, Department of Paediatrics.

Currently, the influenza, or ‘flu’, vaccine is not part of the routine immunisation schedule for children, so it can be difficult to decide whether or not your child needs this vaccine.

Influenza is a highly contagious disease that can cause serious illness and affects the whole body. It is caused by a group of viruses and is spread by coughing and sneezing or touching surfaces with droplets containing the flu virus. It is much more serious than the common cold.

Of all vaccine preventable diseases, influenza is the leading cause of hospitalisation among Australian children under five years of age. Each year nearly 1500 Australian children are hospitalised for influenza.

Flu symptoms to look out for include fever, chills, body aches, headache, fatigue, runny nose, a sore throat and/or cough and nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea in children.

So, how do you know when your child should have this vaccine? Here are some recommendations:

• The annual flu vaccine is recommended for any person six months of age or older who wants to reduce the chance of becoming ill with influenza
• It is strongly recommended for children less than five years of age, particularly those under two years of age, and for people with high risk factors such as down syndrome and obesity
• Children between six months and three years of age receive half a dose of the vaccine (0.25ml) and children three years or older get a full dose (0.5ml)
• It is recommend that children between six months and nine years of age get two doses of the flu vaccine in the first year they receive the vaccine (a minimum of one month apart) and one dose each year thereafter.

The flu vaccine is particularly important, and is free, for people over six-month-old who are considered to be in high risk groups, including those with:

• Heart disease
• Chronic respiratory conditions including severe asthma (frequent hospital admissions and use of multiple medications)
• Impaired immunity
• Diabetes or renal disease
• Chronic neuromuscular disease
• Aboriginals and Torres Staight Islanders over 15 years old
• Pregnant women at any stage of pregnancy
• Adults 65 years and older and residents of nursing homes and other long-term care facilities

Here are some useful answers to specific concerns you may have about the flu vaccine:

Q. Why do people have the flu vaccine every year?

A. The types of flu viruses circulating in the community changes from year to year and so the flu virus in the vaccine can also change from year to year. The immunity from the vaccine only lasts for a year so that is why we need to get it annually. For example, this year there two new strains in the vaccine.

Q. If my child has reduced immunity; should they still have the regular dose of the flu vaccine this year?

A. Because of the new strains added to the flu vaccine this year, we are recommending that any child who is immunocompromised has two shots this year.

Q. Can I get ‘the flu’ from the influenza vaccine?

A. No, the vaccine cannot give you the flu as it doesn’t contain any live viruses.

Q. Can my child get the vaccine if he/she is allergic to egg?

A. The vaccine does contain trace amounts of egg protein. If your child has had anaphylaxis to egg they should be referred to an allergy clinic to receive the vaccine. Children with less severe reactions to egg (not anaphylaxis) can have the vaccine under medical supervision and should be observed for 30 minutes afterwards.

Q. Can my child experience a febrile convulsion after the flu vaccine?

A. In 2010, one of the registered flu vaccines caused an unexpected number of fevers and febrile convulsions in children under five-years-old. This vaccine is no longer given to children five-years and under, and alternative vaccine brands are used preferentially in children between five and ten years of age.

The Royal Children’s Hospital has an Immunisation Clinic, which operates as a drop-in centre, therefore no appointment is necessary. The service provides immunisations and advice to all parents and children visiting the hospital.

If you are worried about a reaction after vaccination, see your GP and report it to the Victorian vaccine safety service SAEFVIC on 1300 882 924, online at www.saefvic.org.au or via saefvic@mcri.edu.au