Free swine flu vaccinations

BUNDABERG residents can take advantage of a free swine flu vaccination clinic today at Bundaberg North State High School.

Wide Bay Public Health physician Dr Margaret Young encouraged the community to take advantage of the free vaccination.

“Queenslanders can protect themselves, their family and their local community against Pandemic (H1N1) 2009 (human swine flu) by taking advantage of this free immunisation clinic,” she said.

“It is vital that children and adolescents are immunised to help protect themselves and the broader community, but everyone in the family above the age of six months should be vaccinated.”

More than 560,000 people have been immunised against H1N1 in Queensland and Dr Young said more people should get the vaccination to prevent a second pandemic wave.

“The pandemic influenza virus is likely to be the predominant flu strain this winter and numbers could surge earlier than normal,” she said.

Further information on the clinics and the disease generally is available by contacting 13HEALTH, 13 43 25 84, or visiting the Queensland Health website at www.health.qld.gov.au