Private Flu Vaccine 2021
2021 private flu vaccines have arrived. We recommend that everyone receives the flu vaccine.
The COVID vaccine cannot be given within two weeks of any other vaccine. Please ensure your COVID and flu vaccines are given at least two weeks apart. It does not matter which vaccine you have first. Choose the vaccine that is available to you first. Appointments are available from Sunday onwards.
Book online. YourGP@Crace has the best weekend availability, YourGP@Denman will have the best midweek availability. The link below will take you directly to flu clinic appointments.
Crace, Lyneham or Denman.
Free government subsidised flu vaccines are not yet available.
Please do not call to ask when they will be available. We are given no forewarning of their arrival.
We expect them in a month and will email you on arrival. We will only open flu clinics for government flu vaccines once they arrive.
Who is the private vaccine for? Ages 5 to 65 years, who are not otherwise eligible for a government-sponsored vaccine.
When? Anytime from now. Peak flu season is usually June to September in Australia, usually peaking in August.
Cost? $25. These appointments are for the administration of the flu vaccine only.
What is in the 2021 vaccine? The private vaccines are quadrivalent, covering two influenza A and two influenza B strains expected to be circulating in 2021:
– A (H1N1): an A/Victoria/2570/2019 (H1N1)pdm09-like virus (new)
– A (H3N2): an A/Hong Kong/2671/2019 (H3N2)-like virus (new)
– B: a B/Washington/02/2019-like (B/Victoria lineage)
– B: a B/Phuket/3073/2013-like (B/Yamagata lineage) virus (included in 2019 vaccine).
What about children? The private flu vaccine we have in stock is not licenced for children under 5 years. Please wait for the free government flu vaccine.
Free government subsidised flu vaccines will be available in a month to the following groups:
- All people 65 years or older (stronger dose flu vaccine which this year will cover four strains).
- Pregnant women
- Children aged 6 months to less than 5 years
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 6 months and over
- People with chronic medical conditions predisposing to severe influenza such as: heart disease, lung disease or moderate/severe asthma, diabetes, renal failure, chronic neurological conditions including multiple sclerosis and seizure disorders, immune compromising conditions including HIV infection, or who are aged 5 to 10 years and are receiving long-term aspirin therapy.
Frequently asked question: can I pay for a private flu shot now and receive a government flu shot later in the season? We have no evidence that this gives additional benefit. You can do this if you wish.
Kind regards,
Drs John and Mel Deery, on behalf of everyone at YourGP