CHEMIST Warehouse is again providing Australians with its in-pharmacy influenza vaccination service in nearly 300 Chemist Warehouse stores around the country.
Bookings can be made via their online booking system now, with appointments available from mid-Mar to 10 Jun.
The group is offering the updated 2023 quadrivalent influenza vaccine.
The 2023 vaccine contains the influenza strains recommended for the Southern Hemisphere by the World Health Organization and by the Australian Influenza Vaccine Committee.
The strains recommended for the Australian influenza season in 2023 are egg-based quadrivalent influenza vaccines:
* an A/Sydney/5/2021 (H1N1)pdm09-like virus;
* an A/Darwin/9/2021 (H3N2)-like virus;
* a B/Austria/1359417/2021 (B/Victoria lineage)-like virus; and
* a B/Phuket/3073/2013 (B/Yamagata lineage)-like virus.
Cell-based quadrivalent influenza vaccines include:
* an A/Sydney/5/2021 (H1N1)pdm09-like virus;
* an A/Darwin/6/2021 (H3N2)-like virus;
* a B/Austria/1359417/2021 (B/Victoria lineage)-like virus; and
* a B/Phuket/3073/2013 (B/Yamagata lineage)-like virus.
Immunisation against influenza can take up to two to three weeks to take effect.
Immunisation remains one of the key defences against the flu.
The Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care have advised that vaccination against influenza remains important this year.
Pharmacists can advise customers who are planning international travel to ensure they have had a 2023 influenza vaccination before departure.
The above article was sent to subscribers in Pharmacy Daily's issue from 22 Mar 23
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