Fed: Elderly should have free flu jab: Wooldridge

AAP General News (Australia)
04-01-2000
Fed: Elderly should have free flu jab: Wooldridge

Elderly Australians are being urged to take advantage of the federal government's free
flu vaccine, with a virulent new strain threatening to strike this winter.

Health minister MICHAEL WOOLDRIDGE says doctors are concerned about the SYDNEY VIRUS
STARIN, which killed around 20,000 mostly elderly people in the UK during the northern
winter.

Dr WOOLDRIDGE says influenza is a serious disease among older people and can result
in complications and possible death.

He's urged people over the age of 65 to visit their GPs to take advantage of the life
saving prevention measure.

Older people, as well as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders and at-risk people
over 15 can go direct to their GP for a vaccination without the need for a prescription.

AAP RTV rft/msk/rp

KEYWORD: FLU WOOLDRIDGE (CANBERRA)

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