2017 HCHB_digital

CONTINUING OTC EDUCATION
Immunisation
The New Zealand Ministry of Health recommends annual vaccination against influenza. The
following groups are eligible for free influenza vaccination (through a doctor) in 2017 with
Influvac:
••
anyone aged 65 years or over
••
anyone aged less than 65 years with:
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cardiovascular disease (ischaemic heart disease, congestive heart failure, rheumatic heart
disease, congenital heart disease and cerebrovascular disease)
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chronic respiratory disease (asthma if on regular preventive therapy; other chronic
respiratory disease with impaired lung function)
»»
diabetes
»»
chronic renal disease
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any type of cancer, excluding basal and squamous skin cancers if not invasive
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other conditions (autoimmune disease, haemaglo binopathies, immune suppression, HIV,
neuromuscular and central nervous system disease, transplant recipients, children on longterm
aspirin)
••
pregnant women
••
children aged four or less who have been hospitalised for a respiratory illness or have a history
of significant respiratory illness.
The 2017 influenza vaccine varies from the 2016 vaccine and provides protection against the
following three virus strains:
••
A/Michigan/45/2015 (H1N1)-like virus (new strain)
••
A/Hong Kong/4801/2014 (H3N2)-like virus
••
B/Brisbane/60/2008-like virus.
Quadrivalent vaccines contain an additional B virus (B/Phuket/3073/2013-like strain).
Pharmacists who have qualified as an authorised vaccinator are able to give privately purchased
influenza immunisations within a community pharmacy setting to individuals aged 13 and older.
Some pharmacists may also be able to vaccinate adults who meet specified eligibility criteria for
funded influenza vaccination.
Useful websites
••
Immunisation Advisory Centre (IMAC) – www.immune.org.nz
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Provides independent, factual information about vaccine-preventable diseases and the
benefits and risks of immunisation.
••
National Influenza Specialists Group (NISG) – influenza.org.nz
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Not-for-profit group of expert New Zealand doctors, nurses, and pharmacists whose aim is
to promote the benefits of immunisation for those most at risk.
Refer to
PHARMACIST
The following questions aim to identify customers who would
benefit from further input from a pharmacist. Your initial assessment
may have already provided some answers. Decide if any further
questions still need to be asked and refer any “yes” answers to a
pharmacist.
• Does the person have any other health conditions (eg, heart or
lung problems, immunosuppression, diabetes, is pregnant or
breastfeeding)?
• Does the person take any other medication, either prescribed by a
doctor or bought from a shop or supermarket (including herbal/
complementary medications)?
• Is the person under 12 years or elderly?
• Does the person have a fever, rash or a stiff or sore neck (see
Childhood Diseases and Immunisation: Meningococcal
disease).
• Does the person have a high fever that doesn’t reduce?
• Does the person have chills or severe shaking, or a purple or bluish
discolouration of their lips, skin, fingers or toes?
• Does the person have difficulty breathing?
• Does the person appear confused or is their mental functioning
impaired?
• Does the person also have vomiting or diarrhoea?
• Is the person having trouble eating or drinking?
• Have the symptoms continued to get worse or persisted for longer
than a week?
• Does the person have a productive cough?
• Has the person recently travelled overseas?
• Is the person particularly unwell, eg, unable to get out of bed?
• Does the person have any allergies to medicines?
To complete the work book assessment
visit pharmacytoday.co.nz
WIN
ONE OF SEVEN
$500
CASH PRIZES
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