Q&As on pandemic vaccine

Getting Vaccinated

• Can I get vaccinated and where do I get vaccinated?
• Why is the Australian Government making Panvax® H1N1 vaccine available when pandemic (H1N1) 2009 influenza is mild in most cases?
• What has been the impact of Pandemic H1N1 Influenza on children in Australia?
• It’s not our flu season – isn’t it too early for me to worry about the Panvax® H1N1 vaccine?
• Is Panvax® H1N1 vaccine safe?
• Will I have to pay for the Panvax® H1N1 vaccine?
• Do I need to be a Medicare card holder?
• I think I’ve had the pandemic (H1N1) 2009 influenza. Do I need to have Panvax® H1N1 vaccine?
• What does ‘confirmed’ pandemic (H1N1) 2009 influenza mean?
• If I’ve recently had Tamiflu® or Relenza® for influenza – do I still need to be vaccinated?
• I was told that I had confirmed H1N1 pandemic influenza and was treated with Tamiflu® /Relenza® - do I still need to be vaccinated?
• How many doses of Panvax® H1N1 vaccine are needed?
• Do I have to pick-up my Panvax® H1N1 vaccine from a chemist first?
• How long after getting vaccinated before I am protected, and how long will it last?
• Will I get influenza from the Panvax® H1N1 vaccine?
• Can I still get a seasonal flu vaccine after being vaccinated for pandemic (H1N1) 2009 influenza?
• How long do I wait before getting the seasonal flu vaccine after being vaccinated for pandemic (H1N1) 2009 influenza?
• Do I need a referral from my GP?
• Is there enough Panvax® H1N1 vaccine to vaccinate the whole population?
• Can I vaccinate my pets?

Travel & International Borders

• If I am travelling overseas should I get this vaccination before I go?
• Will the Australian vaccine protect me from the pandemic influenza overseas?
• I am an Australian citizen currently residing overseas. Will I be able to gain access to the vaccination even though I’m offshore?
• Can I take the vaccine out of Australia?
• Are overseas students eligible?
• Can visitors to Australia have the vaccine?
• Will international visitors from the northern hemisphere bring in more cases of the influenza?
• Will Australia reintroduce Border Protection Measures?

Targeting/priority groups

• Who is being given Panvax® H1N1 vaccine and why?
• Who made the decision to give priority to certain groups and why?
• I have been identified in a priority group – do I have to get Panvax® H1N1 vaccine?
• Why are Indigenous Australians identified in the priority group?
• Can children have Panvax® H1N1 vaccine?
• Can I get the vaccine if I am not in an initial priority group?
• Can I buy Panvax® H1N1 vaccine privately?
• Why is the priority group for Panvax® H1N1 vaccine different from the seasonal flu priority group?
• Why are older Australians not included?
• How can I find out about the vaccination?

Specific Groups

Health care workers getting vaccinated

• Why have I been identified as a priority?

Indigenous

• Why am I in the priority group? ?
• How will I get Panvax® H1N1 vaccine?
• Will Indigenous children be vaccinated?

Pregnant Women and Breast feeding mothers

• Why am I identified as a priority? ?
• Am I getting Panvax® H1N1 vaccine to protect myself or my baby? ?
• Is it safe to be vaccinated at any stage in my pregnancy? ?
• What are the risks to my baby and what are the risks to me? ?
• Should I get vaccinated if I'm breast feeding? ?
• I've heard there is a preservative called thiomersal in Panvax® H1N1 vaccine. Is it safe if I'm pregnant? ?

Safety

• Should some people not be given Panvax® H1N1 vaccine? ?
• What about people taking other medicines? ?
• What if I have had another vaccine recently? ?
• Is Panvax® H1N1 vaccine similar to seasonal flu vaccine? ?
• Why is the pandemic vaccine being produced in multi-dose vials?
• Why does Panvax® H1N1 vaccine contain thiomersal?
• Is thiomersal in vaccines safe?
• What about mercury in the vaccine?
• Does getting the vaccination hurt?
• What are the potential side-effects of the Panvax® H1N1 vaccine?
• What do I do if I feel unwell or experience a side-effect after the Panvax® H1N1 vaccine?
• What is Guillain-Barré syndrome and will I get it from Panvax® H1N1 vaccine?