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Infectious Disease
The key role of practice nurses in protecting adults 65 years and older against influenza – Certificate of Completion
Up to one fifth of the general community can be affected by seasonal influenza (flu), an acute respiratory infection, each year. Adults aged 65 years and over who become infected with the flu have a greatly increased risk of complications from influenza compared to younger adults.
Hospitalisation and death as a result of influenza infection is also more common among high-risk groups. Most deaths associated with influenza in Australia tend to occur in older individuals.
The most important intervention to prevent influenza and its complications is annual vaccination. One yearly dose of the flu vaccine for people aged 65 years and over is currently recommended by Australian immunisation guidelines. Providing older adults with the influenza vaccine can reduce the severity of disease, the rate of hospital admission due to influenza and pneumonia, and all-cause mortality.
DURATION
1 hr
PROFESSION
Nursing
# OF CREDITS
1
ACCREDITATION
Certificate of Completion
EXPIRY DATE
2021-04-16
Up to one fifth of the general community can be affected by seasonal influenza (flu), an acute respiratory infection, each year. Adults aged 65 years and over who become infected with the flu have a greatly increased risk of complications from influenza compared to younger adults.
Hospitalisation and death as a result of influenza infection is also more common among high-risk groups. Most deaths associated with influenza in Australia tend to occur in older individuals.
The most important intervention to prevent influenza and its complications is annual vaccination. One yearly dose of the flu vaccine for people aged 65 years and over is currently recommended by Australian immunisation guidelines. Providing older adults with the influenza vaccine can reduce the severity of disease, the rate of hospital admission due to influenza and pneumonia, and all-cause mortality.
Faculty
Magali De Castro
RN, Clinical Director, Hotdoc Online, Melbourne
Learning objectives
After completing this education, GPs will be better able to:
- Identify the challenges of influenza vaccination in older adults (≥ 65 years of age), including immunosenescence, the H3N2 strain and its tendency to undergo antigenic drift
- Describe the mechanism of action, efficacy and safety of enhanced influenza vaccines especially in addressing antigenic drift and waning immunity
- Outline the effectiveness and tolerability of enhanced influenza vaccines in the older population
- Recognise those patients who would benefit from an enhanced influenza vaccine