To the Editor: Influenza vaccination of residents and staff in aged care homes is recommended by national guidelines1 and has been demonstrated to decrease transmission and burden of infection.2 During the current coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, influenza vaccination of both groups potentially also reduces the risk of mortality associated with influenza virus and severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 co‐infection. We sought to evaluate uptake of influenza vaccination by residents and staff in public sector residential aged care services in Victoria, where non‐mandatory vaccination programs are currently used. There are 178 public sector residential aged care services in Victoria, with the majority located in rural communities.
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- 1. Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation. Australian immunisation handbook. Canberra: Australian Government Department of Health, 2018. https://immunisationhandbook.health.gov.au/ (viewed July 2020).
- 2. Demicheli V, Jefferson T, Di Pietrantonj C, et al. Vaccines for preventing influenza in the elderly. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2018; (2): CD004876.
- 3. National Health and Medical Research Council. Ethical considerations in quality assurance and evaluation activities. Canberra: NHMRC, 2014. https://www.nhmrc.gov.au/about-us/resources/ethical-considerations-quality-assurance-and-evaluation-activities (viewed July 2020).
- 4. Tan HY, Lai E, Kunasekaran M, et al. Prevalence and predictors of influenza vaccination among residents of long‐term care facilities. Vaccine 2019; 37: 6329–6335.
- 5. Premier of Victoria, The Hon Daniel Andrews. Making vaccination mandatory for healthcare workers [media release]. 19 February 2020. https://www.premier.vic.gov.au/making-vaccination-mandatory-healthcare-workers (viewed July 2020).
- 6. Seale H, Macintyre CR. Seasonal influenza vaccination in Australian hospital health care workers: a review. Med J Aust 2011; 195: 336–338. https://www.mja.com.au/journal/2011/195/6/seasonal-influenza-vaccination-australian-hospital-health-care-workers-review
We thank the Victorian public sector residential aged care services that participated in the VICNISS influenza vaccination surveillance modules.
No relevant disclosures.