About 8 out of 10 older Australians were vaccinated against the
flu in 2002, according to survey results released today by the
Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW).
Out of 2.4 million Australians aged 65 and over, 1.9 million
were vaccinated against the flu last year.
A further 1.1 million (about 20%) of Australians aged 40-64
years were also vaccinated.
Men aged 65 years and over were less likely than their female
counterparts to be vaccinated against the flu-a result that held
across all States and Territories.
The report, 2002 Influenza Vaccine Survey: Summary
Results, was carried out as part of an evaluation of the
National Influenza Vaccination Program for Older Australians. The
Program is a Commonwealth Government initiative designed to help
reduce the impact of influenza, which hospitalises more than 2,500
Australians every year.
Seven out of ten Australians aged 65 years and over received
free influenza vaccinations last year through the Program. A
further 1 out of 10 were not vaccinated through the Program.
The survey involved 8,000 participants across Australia,
interviewed during October 2002-at the end of the winter flu
season.
People aged 40 years and over were asked whether they had been
vaccinated against the flu, whether they had received the vaccine
for free or had paid for it, and if they had any of the risk
factors for flu infection or its complications.
More than 60% of all vaccinations (40 years and over) occurred
during March and April.
Of Australians aged 40-64 years with risk factors for influenza
(diabetes or circulatory, immunosupressive or pulmonary disorders),
some 42% were vaccinated.
'What's more, 37% of people who care for older people or those
with risk factors for influenza had been vaccinated,' said report
author, David Batts.
'The high vaccination coverage rate for people over 65 years
helps to reduce the burden of more intensive health services and
deaths resulting from complications of the disease.'
4 April 2003
Further information: David Batts, AIHW, tel. 02
6289 8515 or
tel. 0408 417 340.
Mark Cooper-Stanbury, tel. 02 6289 7027
For media copies of the report: Publications
Officer, AIHW,
tel. 02 6244 1032
Availability: Check the AIHW Publications
Catalogue for details.