Elderly Sunshine Coast residents are showing growing frustration over limited flu vaccination supply, as general practices focus on the COVID-19 vaccine rollout.
Golden Beach Medical Centre general practitioner Dr Michael Hayes said although patients were open to getting vaccinated, the shortage was angering patients.
“My impression is that for our over 65 age group there is still significant enthusiasm and willingness to have the flu vaccine,” he said.
“There’s certainly frustration, perhaps mild anger, in some patients that either can’t get their COVID-19 vaccine or their influenza vaccine immediately when they want it.
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“It’s also hard to get the time to advance the influenza vaccine with timing issues being that there has to be 14 days between the different vaccines.”
While flu vaccination rates are down by up to 40% across Australia, Royal Australian College of General Practitioners studies have said laboratory-confirmed influenza cases are down by more than 99%.
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Dr Hayes said the decrease in infection rates was due to COVID-19 restrictions.
“Interestingly … because we’re all physically distancing, in terms of preventing COVID-19 transmission the restrictions we currently have helped enormously in keeping the numbers down,” he said.
The decrease in vaccinations administered also affects aged care facilities, where flu vaccinations are mandatory for entry into aged-care visitors and workers.
