INFLUENZA – CONCLUSION
The vaccine for influenza is effective. It is prepared from killed virus and contains the  virus and one, two or three of the current A strains.
Usually, only one injection is needed to stimulate the production of antibodies and immunity should be at its peak a month after injection.
However, its effect then tends to wane and it is relatively ineffective after six months but a further injection each year will ensure protection is kept.
When the virus radically changes its nature, the new vaccine usually requires two doses, a month apart, to achieve full protection. The vaccine is regarded as being between 75 and 90 per cent effective.
Most new strains appear in the northern hemisphere during their winter and do not affect Australia until our winter, some six months later.
Although many people complain about the vaccine and believe it may cause an attack similar to the flu, the number of reactions are small.
In recent years greater purification of the vaccine has led to fewer reactions. There may be a sore arm for a couple of hours or even a day or so and, in a few people there may be a mild respiratory type illness for one or two days but severe reactions are rare.
Of course, those people incubating a cold at the time will blame the vaccine for the subsequent symptoms.
The vaccine is usually given in April or May. Who should have it? Certainly those at greatest risk should. This includes the very young, the very old, the very sick, and doctors and nurses, who come in close contact with patients, and those in close contact with the public.
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