2014 Season Flu Vaccine now available in Australia

[AussieNeil]

Those with CLL in Australia are eligible for a free flu vaccination. Given it takes several weeks to become effective and there are early indications that this year could be severe, book your vaccination ASAP!

Department of Health Influenza Fact Sheet for Immunisation Providers:

immunise.health.gov.au/inte...

Professor Raina MacIntyre provides background on Influenza, how this year's vaccine is formulated and lots of other interesting related information - including the fact that vaccination can also protect against heart attacks!

theconversation.com/explain...

Neil

Accompanying picture is of a Musk Duck, sharpened to 95% using GIMP

[Kwenda]

The vaccine is not the only way to reduce your flu risks.

Research just published, yet again shows the benefits of exercise.

Doing at least two and a half hours of vigorous exercise each week cuts the chance of developing flu, new data suggests.

Around 4,800 people took part in this year's online Flu Survey, run by the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.

Moderate exercise did not appear to have a protective effect, the researchers said.

Dr Alma Adler, of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, said: "We need to treat this result cautiously as these are preliminary findings. However, they are consistent with findings for other conditions and really show the health benefits of exercise.

bbc.co.uk/news/health-26581722

Dick

[AussieNeil Partner Administrator]

The Flu Watch study, published in The Lancet Respiratory Medicine today, covers the work of researchers who tracked five sets of households across England over six flu seasons between 2006 and 2011, including the swine flu pandemic (2009). Their research suggests that many people who think they have a cold during winter might actually have the flu, so an individual's risk of exposure to someone with the flu is higher than was previously thought to be the case.

With experts advising those who routinely come into contact with high-risk people (like us) to get vaccinated, this study provides an even even stronger argument to encourage those that you regularly interact with to have a flu vaccination to protect both them and you.

theconversation.com/flu-is-...

Neil