What To Do About Seasonal Flu

Parenting Australia

Articles

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Runny little noses, watery eyes, sneezing, coughing and fevers. No one enjoys seeing a child unwell and parents do what they can to prevent winter bugs. Recent media coverage regarding the flu vaccine for young children, however, has left many parents confused about the best course of action to keep little ones healthy this winter.

Australia’s Chief Medical Officer, Professor Jim Bishop, has advised all GPs and immunisation providers to stop giving the seasonal flu vaccine to children five years and under due to a spike in the numbers of young children in Western Australia experiencing fever and convulsions following seasonal flu vaccinations. This recommendation is in place until a cause is established. Professor Bishop said, “This is a precautionary measure while the matter is being urgently investigated by health experts and the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA)."

According to Professor Bishop, people over five years of age can continue to be vaccinated against seasonal influenza as per usual. Pregnant women fall into the high risk category for which flu can be a serious disease. The Commonwealth Government provides the seasonal flu vaccine free for at risk groups.

There do not appear to be any implications for the swine flu vaccine. Professor Bishop said, “It is safe to have the swine flu vaccine. The TGA’s assessment of clinical trials and the advice of its expert committees is that Panvax® is a safe, effective vaccine for prevention of the H1N1 influenza.” He went on to say that swine flu is expected to be the dominant flu this winter season.

So what are parents to do with children under five this winter? Parenting Australia asked Professor Robert Booy from the Children’s Hospital Westmead for some straight answers. Professor Booy, who is also Head of Clinical Research at the National Centre for Immunisation Research recommends that parents wait until the investigation has been completed. While maintaining that vaccination is still the most effective preventative, he reminds parents to use common sense when dealing with children. This includes not exposing kids to others who are sick and keeping them home when they are sick themselves. He also recommends teaching children to use tissues and wash hands thoroughly when they are old enough to do so.

Of course, despite the best efforts of parents, young children still pick up winter bugs easily. We asked Dr Booy what parents should do if their baby or toddler has flu like symptoms. His advice to parents is to simply use paracetomol for fever in addition to the above advice. He also recommends that parents take their child to a doctor if they have a very high temperature (<39.5), are breathing fast, or if the parents’ instincts suggest their child is very unwell.