Free flu vaccine from family doctors

People who are entitled to receive their influenza vaccine for free will this year be able to have it administered by their family doctor.

The Association of Private Family Doctors has joined forces with the Health Department with the aim of boosting the success of the annual influenza vaccine campaign.

Association spokesman Martin Borg said over 55-year-olds who want to visit their own doctor will still be able to get the vaccine for free and pay for the doctor's professional service only.

Primary health director Andrew Amato Gauci said this step was geared toward increasing the influenza vaccination coverage and make it easier for those who preferred to go to their family doctor.

Both stressed that maximising the vaccination rate would reduce morbidity and mortality from influenza, together with hospital stays and absence from work due to illness.

All people over the age of 55 as well as those suffering from chronic respiratory conditions - asthma and chronic obstructive airways disease - heart disease, diabetes and kidney failure are entitled to free vaccination.

Those who want to make use of this service are urged to book the vaccine at their GP. Vaccination is expected to start around the third week in October.

Flu facts

Influenza is a highly contagious respiratory illness that occurs in epidemics of variable severity almost every winter. Occasionally a major pandemic outbreak takes place.

Despite the improvements in medicine, influenza remains a major burden for society, both from a clinical and economic perspective.

In fact, influenza epidemics have been recognised as a major cause of morbidity and increased mortality, especially among the very young, the very old, people with chronic cardiopulmonary conditions, pregnant women and those with a compromised immune system.

Every year influenza causes three to five million people around the globe to fall ill. It also kills between 250,000 and 500,000 people.

Due to an ageing population, influenza epidemics are being associated with ever-increasing hospitalisation rates and excess mortality unless prophylactic measures are taken. Around 100 people for every million living in developed countries die from influenza every year. Most of the victims are aged 65 and over.