The numbers may be a little behind the first stages of last year, but Wanganui health professionals are confident the influenza immunisation programme is proceeding well.
Inoculations began in March and in the following five weeks 7500 people across the Whanganui District health Board district had received their jabs.
This is about 900 down on the corresponding period last year but on a par with 2009.
Dr Rick Nicholson, a partner in Aramoho Health Centre, one of the city's biggest general practices, said he and his colleagues had been "pretty busy" delivering the seasonal flu injections.
"It's been going very well this year and while I don't have the numbers I know we have given the injections to a lot of our patients already," Dr Nicholson said.
"And people are keen to get the injection as well."
He said their practice, as with others, was geared up to handle the demand for the immunisation.
"We've been grabbing them as soon as they come through the doors ."
He said the practice had started going out to resthomes as well as schools - immunising teaching staff - and would soon be visiting businesses who offered immunisation to staff.
Dr Nicholson said fewer people were declining the injections as they realised the protection immunisation gave them.
He said there had already been some flu cases in the city.
Meanwhile, virologist Dr Lance Jennings, a spokesman for the National Influenza Strategy Group (NISG),urged New Zealanders to get immunised before winter.
"People who are eligible for free immunisation should protect themselves as soon as possible as they are most vulnerable to complications from influenza," Dr Jennings said.
Each year between 10-20 per cent of New Zealanders get influenza.
He said it important to be immunised before winter as it can take up to two weeks to develop immunity after receiving the injection.
More than 700,000 doses of influenza vaccine have been distributed to surgeries and clinics already. Last year vaccine distribution reached 1,046,000.
Dr Jennings said this was an encouraging start but the figure meant "many thousands of people are vulnerable to this potentially serious disease".
This year's vaccine provides protection against three strains of flu, including the Pandemic H1N1 (swine flu), and seasonal H3N2 and B viruses, which are expected to circulate this winter.
"Although influenza may be mild to moderate for most people, it can lead to serious complications and even death for others," he said.
Influenza immunisation is free for New Zealanders at high risk of complications - people aged 65 and over, and anyone under 65 years of age with long-term health conditions such as heart disease, stroke, diabetes, respiratory disease (including asthma), kidney disease and most cancers.
Pregnant women are also offered free immunisation which is available to eligible people until July 31.
FLU FACTS
- In 2011 the strains covered by the vaccine are: A/California/7/2009 (H1N1)-like virus; (Swine Flu); A/Perth/16/2009 (H3N2)-like virus; B/Brisbane/60/2008-like virus
- From January to September 2010 in NZ, 727 people were hospitalised with pandemic influenza. Sixteen people who died in 2010 had the pandemic influenza strain out of 23 linked to the strain
- Up to 156,000 consulted a GP about influenza-like illness and from 1989 to 2004, surveillance reports indicate there were 5226 hospitalisations and 414 deaths, making an average of 327 hospitalisations per year directly attributed to influenza.
- The funded seasonal influenza vaccines for 2011 are Fluvax (manufactured in Australia by CSL) and Fluarix (manufactured in Germany by GSK)
Due to the reactions experienced by some children in 2010, Fluvax is not recommended for use in children under nine years this year
7500 receive flu jabs in five weeks
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