With the flu season just around the corner, families can now be better prepared, after the age limit to get the flu vaccination at your local pharmacy was lowered from 16 to 10 years.
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It means families now have the choice of either attending the pharmacy, or their local GP.
Last year was the longest flu season on record and in 2017 more than 650 people in NSW died from flu-related conditions.
Pharmacist and NSW Pharmaceutical Guild member Karen Carter said she was "super excited" by the news.
"This allows whole families to be vaccinated in the pharmacy," Ms Carter said.
"If we can have 'herd immunity' then we have a better chance of flu prevention. We know that kids often bring sickness home from school, so this announcement is very exciting.
"NSW was the first state to bring the vaccination age down to 16 years and now it has dropped it down to 10 years, this will result in a far better immunity coverage.
"Most pharmacies in the larger centres can provide vaccination services, but it pays to check ahead before requesting your flu shots."
Tamworth MP Kevin Anderson said this is fantastic news for families, especially given the increasing concern of a COVID-19 pandemic with winter flu.
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"I know many families will be concerned with the safety of their loved ones and while this access to the flu vaccine won't combat COVID-19, it will help reduce the severity and spread of flu, which can lower a person's immunity and make them susceptible to other illnesses.
"By allowing pharmacists to administer privately-purchased flu vaccines to people aged 10 years and over, families now have more choice when booking-in for a flu jab.
If we can have 'herd immunity' then we have a better chance of flu prevention.
- Pharmacist, Karen Carter
"This year's flu vaccine will be specifically tailored to the strains we expect will pose the greatest risk but as always, call ahead to ensure your GP or pharmacist has your dose."
People aged 65 and over, pregnant women, Aboriginal people and those with high-risk medical conditions can be vaccinated for free by GPs under the National Immunisation Program. The free NSW-funded vaccine is available to all children aged six months to five years.
