Influenza vaccination is particularly important this year. With the easing of international and domestic public health measures arising from the COVID-19 global pandemic, a resurgence of influenza is expected in 2022. For those who catch the flu, it can result in serious illness.
Annual influenza vaccination is recommended for all people aged 6 months and over and is the best defence against the flu, helping prevent both severe illness and from spreading it to your loved ones.
To get your flu vaccine today, please call your local GP clinic or pharmacy.
For people most at risk, you may be eligible to receive your influenza vaccination at Monash Health’s Sandown Racecourse Vaccination Centre as part of the 2022 National Immunisation Program’s influenza vaccination program.
If you meet one of the following criteria, you are eligible to receive an influenza vaccine at the Sandown Vaccination Centre:
- People aged 65 years and over
- Pregnant women (at any stage of pregnancy)
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 5 years and over
- People aged 5 years and over with medical conditions putting them at increased risk of severe influenza and complications (for further information, please refer to the 2022 influenza vaccines – Clinical advice for vaccination providers fact sheet)
For people who meet the eligibility criteria above, influenza vaccination appointments are free and walk-in only (no booking required) at Sandown Racecourse from 10 May 2022. If you are also due for your COVID-19 vaccine (any dose), you can receive both the influenza vaccine and COVID-19 vaccine on the same day.
For those who do not meet the criteria above, please call your local GP clinic or pharmacy to book your influenza vaccination.
Open hours and location details for the Sandown Vaccination Centre are available here.