REMAINING flu vaccines are now being reserved for the state’s children, sick and elderly as unprecedented demand has led to a nationwide shortage.
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Following 2017's horror flu season more than 1.5 million people have been vaccinated in Victoria, and supplies are now exhausted, the health department says.
"Remaining vaccine now needs to be conserved for those who are at greatest need," Victoria's chief health officer Charles Guest told reporters on Friday.
“The increased demand may in part be due to the consequences of the major flu season last year and our advice to Victorians to protect themselves this year by getting immunised.”
Wendouree MP Sharon Knight announced a $1.8 million pre-winter boost last month to help Ballarat Health Services meet demand.
Elective surgeries were put on hold and adult patients shared space with the children’s ward as the flu wreaked havoc at the BHS Base Hospital last year.
- READ MORE: Ballarat’s joint attack on flu season 2017
The hospital reported a 45 to 49 per cent increase in patients with flu-like symptoms.
The $1.8 million funding was to allow the hospital to address winter demands to best suit community needs. Changes may include putting on more doctors and nurses, or opening more beds to treat more patients.
Supplies of influenza vaccines are becoming short across Australian states and territories, following unprecedented demand this year.
The shortage is being felt in both the government funded and private areas and across most types of influenza vaccines manufactured by pharmaceutical companies.
Professor Guest said stocks of most influenza vaccines were now exhausted and Victoria was working with the Australian Government and vaccine providers to explore ways to urgently obtain additional supplies.
Priority for those most at risk includes: children aged six months to five years; people in risk groups under the National Immunisation Program; pregnant women, people aged 65 years or more; Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 15 years or more; and people with medical conditions predisposing them to severe influenza.
Professor Guest said people in these groups should call ahead to their provider to ascertain if vaccine remains available. He said it may be necessary to contact an alternative provider as there may be stock in some GP practices and not others in Victoria.
Those deemed not at high risk are urged to wait for updates on further availability of the vaccine.
Victoria has already provided more than 1.5 million doses of the vaccine to immunisation providers for use across the state. Victoria introduced a program of free influenza vaccines for Victorian children this year, in order to protect them and the wider community.