Nabenet Health

Last Thursday our first delivery of 2019 flu vaccinations arrived! A quick transition to our temperature controlled fridge followed…and we are now ready to STOP the spread of flu this winter. To book your company flu vaccinations please call Nabenet Health on (03) 9981 9888 or email markmanokaran@nabenet.com.au

Written by Mark Manokaran – Nabenet Health Manager

The provision of influenza vaccination programs to all staff in residential aged care homes will be compulsory from May, 2018. The moves comes amid the staggering results of a national survey conducted across residential care homes which showed a significant link between increased staff immunisation and lower aged care flu outbreaks. The Hon Ken Wyatt, Minister for Aged Care recently advised that aged care homes with only a quarter of their staff vaccinated had a 25% higher rate of flu outbreaks than those with more than three quarters vaccinated.

The national survey also revealed that 43% of the 2609 residential aged care homes reported at least one influenza outbreak in 2017. Alarmingly, only 3.5% of facilities had the recommended staff coverage of over 95% or higher to gain herd immunity.

Those providing in-house staff vaccination programs had higher coverage than those who only encouraged staff to go to an external provider.

“Vaccination is imperative for staff and residents in aged care, where the flu can spread quickly and have devastating consequences,” said Minister Wyatt. 

 Nabenet Health provides onsite flu vaccination programs for facilities with no travel*, booking or administrative charges – contact us now on 9981 9888 or workhealth@nabenet.com.au to book in your flu vaccination program.

 *metropolitan and wider Melbourne areas only. Regional areas may require additional travel fees 

Resources:

https://beta.health.gov.au/news-and-events/news/2018-influenza-season-important-information-for-residential-aged-care-workers

 https://www.agedcareguide.com.au/talking-aged-care/aged-care-staff-target-for-new-mandatory-flu-vaccine

 http://www.health.gov.au/internet/ministers/publishing.nsf/Content/health-mediarel-yr2018-hunt041.htm

2018 Flu Vaccination Bookings are NOW OPEN

Nabenet Health can provide your organisation with flu vaccinations for the 2018 flu season. It is recommended that organisations offer flu vaccinations from March to ensure protection before flu season peaks in winter.

Why choose Nabenet?

Nabenet Health will provide a professional service by one of our qualified nurse immunisers at your workplace.

We understand the needs of your business and offer an online booking system, SMS reminders, as well as catering for shift workers.

We do not charge administration fees, setup costs or travel within metropolitan Melbourne.

TO MAKE A BOOKING OR ENQUIRY PLEASE CALL MARK MANOKARAN AT NABENET on 9981 9888

To read Mark’s article about Flu Vaccinations click here

With all this beautiful weather it’s difficult to think about the flu, however, it’s time to start booking flu vaccinations for the 2017 flu season. Each year in Australia the flu causes an estimated 1,500,000 sick days and vaccination is a great way to reduce sick days in the workplace.

For 2017 vaccinations the World Health Organisation is no longer recommending the Trivalent (3 strain) vaccine and we are only offering the Quadrivalent (4 strain) vaccine. We are offering the same price for this vaccine as last year with no increase.

Our price is inclusive of equipment, metropolitan Melbourne travel, booking and setup costs and we can cater for shift workers as well if needed.

The Australian made 4 strain vaccine, recommended by the World Health Organisation for 2017 covers the following four viruses;

• an A/Michigan/45/2015 (H1N1)pdm09-like virus;
• an A/Hong Kong/4801/2014 (H3N2)-like virus;
• a B/Brisbane/60/2008- like virus; and
• a B/Phuket/3073/2013-like virus.

We expect to have the vaccine available in early March and we also expect this will be a popular time for bookings as this is the optimum time for receiving the flu vaccination. If you would like to make a booking we urge you to do this now to secure a preferred date and time while stock is available.

PLEASE CALL NABENET HEALTH ON (03) 9981 9888 TO RECEIVE A QUOTE AND SECURE YOUR BOOKING.

There are several changes to the upcoming flu vaccination season which we can assist you with when offering vaccinations to your staff. Traditionally there has been a trivalent influenza vaccine available for use by employers, the government and doctors, however, in 2016 there will be the additional option of a quadrivalent influenza vaccine.

What is the difference between the two vaccines?

The quadrivalent vaccine offers protection against the four most common circulating influenza virus strains, and, the trivalent vaccine offers protection against three strains – two strains of influenza A, which usually leads to more cases of the flu and one of influenza B, which is less common but also circulates in the community. The quadrivalent vaccine will include protection against a second strain of influenza B.

Most employers understand the need to offer the vaccination to staff to reduce absenteeism which can triple in winter as a result of influenza and colds. The obvious choice would seem to be the quadrivalent, however, it comes at a price! The quadrivalent is likely to be $7-$9 more expensive per vaccine and at this stage estimates are that it will arrive later in the season than its counterpart, the trivalent, which should be available in March.

As an employer you will have the choice of what vaccine to offer staff. Early indications from employers are that many will offer the trivalent vaccine as it contains two new strains from the 2015 vaccine and historically this vaccine has matched the majority of circulating viruses in Australia. The trivalent is Australian made and will also be more cost effective and is likely to be available earlier to offer protection for longer. In fact, last year, the trivalent vaccine used by Nabenet Health was available 8 weeks ahead of foreign made quadrivalent vaccine.

TO BOOK OR MAKE AN ENQUIRY FOR THE 2016 FLU SEASON PLEASE CONTACT BELINDA JOHNSON phone: 9981 9888 or belindajohnson@nabenet.com.au

For more information about flu vaccination myths click here

For information on the benefits of vaccination click here

The 2015 flu vaccine has two strain changes from the 2014 flu vaccine and is also different to the vaccine given to the northern hemisphere population.

Current information from our suppliers is that the 2015 vaccination is likely to arrive later than usual. Given that it takes around two weeks after the vaccination for a person to develop protection against the influenza infection we would recommend securing the services of a provider to deliver your vaccinations sooner rather than later.

To find out more please contact Belinda Johnson on (03) 9981 9888 or belindajohnson@nabenet.com.au

Nabenet Health can provide your organisation with on-site flu vaccinations for the 2015 flu season. It is recommended that flu vaccines be administered from March onwards to ensure protection before the influenza season peaks in late winter.

Did you know?

– Absenteeism triples in winter as a result of influenza and colds

– Up to 20% of the population can be affected by influenza each year

– Vaccination can reduce flu-related absenteeism by 43%

Why choose Nabenet Health

Nabenet Health will provide a professional service by one of our qualified nurse immunisers at your workplace. We understand the needs of your business and offer an online booking system, SMS reminders, as well as catering for shift workers.

We do not charge administration fees, setup costs or travel within metropolitan Melbourne.

For more information about the seasonal flu vaccination or to make a booking please contact Belinda Johnson from Nabenet Health on 03 9981 9881 or belindajohnson@nabenet.com.au