When is the right time to get a flu shot?

As Australia comes off the back of a fatal summer flu season, influenza vaccines are becoming available to protect against winter variants of the illness. The Department of Health is already urging vulnerable people to take advantage of the vaccine, offered free to over 65s. But the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) is warning vaccine timing is everything. The association's president Harry Nespolon encouraged people to speak with their doctor before a flu shot to ensure the timing is effective. Last year, over 65 year olds accounted for 75 per cent of influenza-associated deaths. To maximise their protection, the enhanced Fluad (Seqirus) vaccine is being offered to them.