NEWS

Experts call on Australians to be prepared with venomous bites and stings first aid before summer hits

• Cell-based influenza vaccines demonstrated between 10% and 15% relative vaccine effectiveness across three recent seasons compared to traditional egg-based vaccines in the prevention of test-confirmed influenza, according to a new study presented at ESWI Influenza Conference in Spain.1

• CSL Seqirus has welcomed the data as it accelerates towards the end of construction of its new seasonal and pandemic cell-based influenza vaccine manufacturing facility in Tullamarine, Melbourne.

• 33% of Australian adults say that flu is only somewhat serious (while it can get people very sick and put in hospital, they cannot die from it). 14% say it’s not very, or not at all, serious1.
• Nearly half (46%) of Australians want their GP or pharmacist to discuss prevention options, including vaccination, so they can make a more informed choice about their health this flu season1.
• Following the 2022 flu season and signs that cases are already on the rise this year,2 experts are concerned that Australians are underestimating the seriousness of flu.

Experts call on Australians to know the latest first aid so they can act fast

• Australia is the first major country to approve Ryaltris for use in patients six years and older, after first receiving approval for 12 years and older in 2019.1
• More than 4.6 million Australians are affected by hay fever, with up to 18% of children affected by 11 years of age.2,3
• Children with hay fever may experience irritability, distraction, fatigue, embarrassment and increased days off school, making them more likely to have poorer grades than other students.4

• Flucelvax^® Quad, Australia’s first and only cell-based influenza vaccine is now approved for children aged two years and older.¹
• Flucelvax^® Quad was first available in Australia in 2021 and now the TGA has approved its extended use in children down to two years for the 2022 influenza season.¹
• Cell-based technology represents a significant innovation in influenza vaccine manufacturing.²
• More than 100 million doses of Flucelvax Quad^® have been distributed worldwide.³

A unique partnership between Australia and Papua New Guinea (PNG) to donate antivenoms and help save the lives of people bitten or stung by venomous snakes and marine creatures has been extended for a further two years, 2021-2023.

• Flu vaccination rates are significantly lower than last year - fewer than one in two Australians working with patients have had their flu vaccine in 2021 – compared with almost more than double that number this time last year (47.6% vs 88.6%)
• The Australian Government recommends flu vaccination for everyone aged six months and older
• Every flu season is different – and it is hard to predict what will happen each season

CSL Limited (ASX:CSL) has released 830,000 locally made doses of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine, ahead of initial scheduling.

CSL is pleased to confirm that the final stages of manufacturing of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine for Australia are planned to commence next week, with first doses on track for release towards the end of March, subject to approval by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA).

• With holidays at home in Australia this year, a new consumer survey reveals an underpreparedness to deal with potentially deadly bites and stings from venomous creatures
• Despite some experts saying snake encounters are increasing^1,2, less than half of respondents could identify the correct first aid procedures for a snake bite³
• Only 27% said that they would always pack a first aid kit when going to the bush or beach, despite half indicating they have been bitten or stung and/or witnessed venomous bites and stings firsthand
• 41% could not recall ever receiving training on first aid for venomous bites and stings

CSL Limited (ASX:CSL) today announced it has signed a Heads of Agreement (HoA) with the Australian Government for the supply of 51 million doses of the University of Queensland’s (UQ) COVID-19 vaccine candidate (V451), and a separate HoA with AstraZeneca to manufacture the Oxford University candidate (AZD1222), should clinical trials of both prove successful.

Seqirus Australia is pleased to confirm that additional supplies of flu vaccinations have started to roll out across the country – with around one million doses expected to be rolled out in the next three weeks, ahead of the peak influenza months.

Local flu vaccine manufacturer Seqirus will go back into production to supply Australians approximately two million additional flu vaccines for the 2020 flu season.