Types of vaccinations
As vaccines are used as a precautionary method, the type of vaccine you require will depend on the type of illness you are trying to avoid. At New Victoria Hospital, we offer a wide range of vaccines.
These include:
Flu vaccinations
The flu vaccine is offered throughout the year to protect individuals from getting seriously ill from the flu. Whilst most people who get the flu will only suffer with unpleasant side effects, for others it may be extremely dangerous and even life threatening. That’s why receiving a flu vaccine can prevent the disease from escalating, as the patient will have early protection against the main types of flu viruses.
For some high risk individuals, receiving the flu vaccine is incredibly important as this will protect them in the future. Some high risk patients include, but are not limited to:
- Patients aged 65 and over.
- Individuals with underlying health problems or genetic conditions, such as diabetes, heart conditions, etc. Patients who suffer from respiratory conditions like asthma and bronchitis may be of higher risk of developing bad cases of flu.
- A patient that is pregnant.
- Frontline healthcare workers and social workers.
It is recommended you get the vaccine before the spread of flu is at its peak during the winter months. Autumn and early winter is the ideal time to get vaccinated in preparation for the flu season, however it is possible to get it later than this. It is not recommended that you get the flu vaccine if you have had a bad allergic reaction to a previous flu vaccine.
All flu vaccines are given to patients through an injection. The needle which contains the flu vaccine is inserted into the muscle in the upper arm of the patient. Once the flu vaccine is administered, it can take up to 10-14 days for the flu vaccine to work.
Most often patients will have mild side effects from the flu vaccine, however in some cases symptoms may appear. Symptoms can show as:
- A mild fever.
- Achy muscles.
- Soreness and bruising when the needle was inserted.
The following flu vaccines are available at New Victoria Hospital:
- Influenza/Flu (Quadrivalent Inactivated) for 6 months to 64 years
- Influenza (Trivalent Inactivated) for 65 years and over
- Influenza/Flu Tetra (Nasal Flu Vaccine)
Travel vaccinations
If you are planning to travel out of the country, you may be required to be vaccinated against diseases and infections found overseas. It is important you check what travel vaccinations you will need to have before you travel to a particular destination.
We recommend you receive your travel vaccinations at least 8 weeks before travelling to allow your body time to develop immunity. Some vaccinations may require several doses over a span of several weeks or months. It is therefore important to plan your travel vaccinations in advance to ensure you have enough time to receive all your vaccination requirements.
