Older people and Influenza

Pandemic (H1N1) 2009 influenza is different to the seasonal flu. While older people are generally considered vulnerable to seasonal flu, they appear to have had less infection with pandemic H1N1 2009 influenza.

However, older people with underlying chronic medical conditions can suffer a more severe illness when they get influenza and a more rapid deterioration, due to underlying disease, ageing of the immune system, immobility or debility.

Conditions that make people vulnerable to severe infection include:

  • Chronic respiratory conditions, including asthma and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease;
  • People who are very overweight; and
  • People with:
      • Cardiac disease (excluding simple hypertension)
      • Diabetes mellitus
      • Chronic metabolic diseases
      • Chronic kidney disease
      • Haemoglobinopathies
      • Immunosuppressed (including cancers, HIV/AIDS infection, transplant treatments)
      • Chronic neurological conditions.

Vaccination

A new vaccine, called Panvax®, has been developed to provide protection for the most vulnerable in the community. Older people with underlying health conditions are in the Australian Government’s priority group for immediate vaccination.

Healthy older people should continue to get seasonal flu shots.

More detail on www.healthemergency.gov.au: