How well did we protect our vulnerable from influenza in 2019?

Annual influenza vaccination is strongly recommended for all for children aged 6 months to <5 years, adults aged ≥65 years, Indigenous people aged ≥6 months and anyone aged ≥6 months with specified medical conditions. The first published data from the Australian Immunisation Register (AIR) on influenza vaccine coverage in adults by Indigenous status show recorded influenza vaccine uptake in 2019 was substantially higher among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged ≥65 years than non-Indigenous Australians. 

According to a letter published in the Communicable Diseases Intelligence, NCIRS researchers analysed de-identified AIR data for the period 1 March 2019 to 31 August 2019 and found recorded vaccine uptake was 75.1% among older Indigenous adults, much higher than the 58% in non-Indigenous Australians. However, recorded uptake among non-Indigenous Australians has improved in 2019 since 2017 (31.5%) and 2018 (46.3%), showing that reporting to AIR is improving. Also, on the basis of knowledge of influenza vaccine doses distributed, it is known the true vaccine uptake was higher. 

Among children aged 6 months to <5 years, both Indigenous and non-Indigenous, the recorded vaccine uptake improved to almost 40% in 2019, up from 2018 (29.5% and 25.3%, respectively).

The analysis shows although there is improved completeness of vaccination reporting to AIR, continued efforts to encourage reporting by all providers, including those in primary care, vaccinating pharmacists and workplace and hospital-based providers, are important. Authors also emphasise that clinicians and public health programs should continue to enhance strategies to increase influenza vaccination for all at-risk individuals, as recommended. 

Read more here.