The new Southern Hemisphere Influenza Vaccine for the 2022 Southern Hemisphere Influenza Season is available at IMC.
It contains the following strains:
- A/Victoria/2570/2019 (H1N1)pdm09 – like strain (A/Victoria/2570/2019, IVR-215)
- A/Darwin/9/2021 (H3N2) – like strain (A/Darwin/9/2021, IVR-228)
- B/Austria/1359417/2021 – like strain (B/Austria/1359417/2021, BVR-26)
- B/Phuket/3073/2013 – like strain (B/Phuket/3073/2013, wild type)
Compared with the Northern Hemisphere (NH) 2021/2022 flu vaccine, two of the four strains have changed. The Ministry of Health and the World Health Organisation (WHO) have recommended that you should be vaccinated with the Southern Hemisphere (SH) vaccine now, even if you received the Northern Hemisphere NH2021/2022 vaccine.
WHO currently predicts that there will be no strain changes for the NH 2022/2023 influenza season so getting a dose of the SH 2022 vaccine now would give you cover for a whole year. For maximal benefit you can get the SH vaccine from April 2022.
It is especially important for the following groups to receive the vaccine as they are more vulnerable to complications of influenza:
- Women at all stages of pregnancy
- Persons aged 65 years or older;
- Children aged 6 to 59 months;
- Adults and children who have chronic lung (like asthma) or heart disorders;
- Adults and children who have required regular medical follow-up or hospitalisation due to chronic metabolic diseases ( like diabetes), kidney, neurologic (like stroke, Parkinson’s, epilepsy and intellectual disability), liver, or blood disorders;
- Adults and children with immunosuppression;
- Children and adolescents aged 6 months to 18 years who are receiving long-term aspirin therapy
Other people who should receive the vaccine are:
- Persons receiving intermediate and long term care (ILTC) services in institutional settings; and
- All healthcare workers
In light of COVID-19 pandemic, influenza vaccination continues to be recommended for persons working or living in close-living environments for the 2022 SH season. These groups include:
- Foreign workers living in all forms of dormitories and private residential premises. In particular, those working in construction, marine, and processes sectors; and
- Staff working in custodial and residential facilities (e.g. homes and shelters), communal living facilities, hostels or cruises/ferries.
- IMC also recommends it if you are traveling to the Southern Hemisphere this winter.
Interval between COVID-19 vaccine and Influenza vaccine:
A minimum interval of 14 days is recommended between receiving the COVID-19 vaccine and any other vaccine. This means that you should receive the influenza vaccine at least 2 weeks before the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine or 2 weeks after the second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.
Dr Ho Tzin Yih is a graduate of the Royal College of Surgeons, Dublin in 1994, he also has a Bachelor of Science degree from Baylor University in Waco, Texas. He is registered with UKOOA and trained in Occupational Medicine and a Designated Workplace Doctor. Dr Ho has been with IMC for over 10 years and is the Deputy Medical Director based in our Camden Clinic.
Please call our clinics now to book your appointment.
