什么是流行性感冒？

COVID-19 disease is caused by infection with the SARS-CoV-2 virus of which there are many different strains and subvariants.  In 2024, the Omicron variant is the predominant strain circulating globally. 

Since its emergence in 2019, COVID-19 disease has had vast impacts on society. In addition to the public health implications, the economic, social and mental health effects have been and continue to be significant.   

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Infections can be asymptomatic or can result in a spectrum of symptoms, from mild respiratory symptoms to more serious disease affecting multiple organs and systems. Severe disease can lead to hospitalisation, mechanical ventilation, and can be fatal.    

Common symptoms of acute infection can include rhinorrhoea (runny nose), sneezing, headache, sore throat and fatigue. The symptoms of fever, loss of smell or taste and persisting cough seen in infections with previous variants (Alpha, Beta, Gamma, Delta) are less likely to occur in infections with the Omicron variant. 

Long COVID is a chronic condition that can occur following acute infection. It is the persistence of symptoms for greater than 3 months after an initial infection that cannot be attributed to other causes. Long COVID can have a huge impact on an individual’s quality of life, mental health and ability to participate in work or schooling. Long COVID is more common in people who have experienced severe COVID-19 disease, those who had underlying medical conditions prior to infection (e.g. hypertension, chronic lung disease, diabetes, obesity) and those who are unvaccinated.  

Paediatric Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome Temporally associated with SARS-CoV-2 (PIMS-TS), or Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children associated with COVID-19 (MIS-C), is a newly described condition that has been reported in children in the first 2-6 weeks after COVID-19 infection. It is an inflammatory condition, similar to 川崎病，并以皮疹、发烧、休克和腹痛为特征。患有 PIMS-TS 的儿童几乎总是需要住院治疗。

结核病是如何传播的？

COVID-19 is transmitted through the inhalation of virus particles made airborne when an infected person coughs, sneezes, breathes, speaks or sings. Droplets containing virus particles can contaminate surfaces and can be spread when a person touches these surfaces and then touches their nose, mouth or eyes. Poorly ventilated settings can also contribute to the spread of COVID-19 because aerosol particles can remain suspended in the air for several hours longer than in well-ventilated settings. 

The incubation period for the disease is 1 to 14 days, with most individuals displaying symptoms 3 days after being exposed. Individuals are most infectious in the 2 days before their symptoms begin and the early stages of their illness. People with asymptomatic disease can still infect others.   

流行病学

自2019年以来，超过 774 million infections have been reported worldwide contributing to more than 7 million deaths. True figures are likely to be much higher. Serosurveys indicate that by December 2022 more than two thirds of adult Australians had been infected with SARS-CoV-2.

Individuals with immunocompromise, advancing age (particularly > 70 years), obesity, respiratory conditions, heart disease, diabetes, renal disease, liver disease, neurological conditions and disability are more likely to experience severe symptoms if infected with SARS-CoV-2. Pregnancy in unvaccinated people is also recognised as a risk factor for developing severe disease; however, this risk has declined substantially since the Omicron variant became the predominant circulating strain. 

Certain occupations, such as working in healthcare, increase likelihood of exposure to SARS-CoV-2 and therefore infection.   

预防措施

Strategies to reduce risk of transmission of COVID-19 disease include standard precautions such as hand hygiene, wearing masks when remaining socially distant is not possible and ensuring indoor spaces have good ventilation.   

While natural infection does provide some immunity, it is not lifelong, and the emergence of newer strains contributes to repeat infections. 

Vaccination aims to reduce the severity of COVID-19 symptoms and the need for hospitalisation. There are 2 vaccine brands available for use within Australia:  

  • Comirnaty (Pfizer) vaccine containing nucleoside-modified mRNA encoding the spike glycoprotein of SARS-CoV-2   
  • Spikevax (Moderna) vaccine containing nucleoside-modified mRNA encoding the spike glycoprotein of SARS-CoV-2   

As newer variants of 这 SARS-CoV-2 virus emerge, vaccines 是 updated 到 target the strains that are circulating; where possible, these should be used preferentially. 

Table 1: Vaccine brands and type available for use by age group

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阴影框表示疫苗不适用于该年龄组。
shaded boxes indicate preferred vaccines in this age group.
✓ may be used in this age group.
* Comirnaty (Pfizer) Omicron XBB.1.5 is registered for use in individuals aged 6 months to 4 years and supply is anticipated in early 2024. When stock of this formulation becomes available this vaccine will be preferentially recommended in this age group over the Original [Maroon cap] vaccine.

初级课程

Immunocompetent people aged 5 years and over require a single dose of vaccine to complete their primary course.

People aged 6 months and over with 严重的免疫功能低下, and children aged 6 months to 4 years with increased risk of severe disease, require 2剂, 8 weeks apart. A 3rd dose may be considered based on individual circumstances.

Further doses

Following receipt of a primary course, recommendations for further doses vary depending on the age of the individual and their risk factors for severe disease.  

Table 2: 2024 recommendations for COVID-19 booster doses (adapted from ATAGI statement on the administration of COVID-19 vaccines in 2024)

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阴影框表示疫苗不适用于该年龄组。

免疫接种的副作用

常见副作用 

Most side effects following COVID-19 vaccination are mild and can include pain at the injection site, fatigue, headache, lymphadenopathy and fever. 

罕见的副作用  

心肌炎（心肌发炎）和心包炎（心脏周围内膜发炎） are rare conditions that have been reported following administration of COVID-19 vaccines. They are most commonly associated with viral infections (including COVID-19 disease) but can also be triggered by other factors such as medications and autoimmune conditions. In the setting of vaccination, the peak risk group for myocarditis is young adult males aged between 16 and 24 years following a second dose of vaccination. Pericarditis occurring after vaccination is more common in the 20 to 45 year old age group for both males and females. 

血栓形成伴血小板减少症 (TTS) 是一种罕见病症，据报道发生在之前接种过 COVID-19 疫苗 Vaxzevria（阿斯利康）的人群中. Since March 2023, Vaxzevria is no longer available for use in Australia.

常见问题

  • Can pregnant or breastfeeding people receive COVID-19 vaccines?

    是的，在怀孕的任何阶段接种 COVID-19 疫苗都是安全的。由于孕妇及其未出生婴儿出现严重后果的风险增加，因此 受到推崇的 that any unvaccinated pregnant people receive a primary course of COVID-19 vaccination during pregnancy. Administration of further doses can also be considered if they are due.

    Those who are breastfeeding can receive COVID-19 vaccines, and do not need to stop breastfeeding before or after being vaccinated.

    Real world surveillance of international data on mRNA COVID-19 vaccine administration in pregnant people has shown no significant safety concerns for either the mother or the baby. Further to this, antibodies have been detected in the cord blood and breastmilk of vaccinated people, suggesting a transfer of protection to the baby.

  • 我在哪里可以获得 COVID-19 疫苗？

    Individuals aged ≥ 5 years can access COVID-19 vaccines through GP clinics 和 some pharmacies. Children aged 6 months to 4 years can receive 新冠肺炎 vaccines through Hospital immunisation services at 蒙纳士儿童医院, 皇家儿童医院 和 Joan Kirner 妇女儿童医院（阳光）.要找到离您最近的提供者并进行预约，请访问 Health direct website.  

  • COVID-19 感染和疫苗接种之间的推荐间隔时间是多长？

    一个 间隔6个月 between COVID-19 infection and any COVID-19 vaccination is recommended.

  • COVID-19 疫苗能否与其他疫苗在同一天接种？

    COVID-19 vaccines can be co-administered (given on the same day) with other vaccines, including influenza vaccines for individuals aged 5 years and over. An interval of 7 到 14 days between vaccines is preferred for children aged 6 months to 4 years to avoid the possib我lity of adverse events such as fever. However, if this is logistically challenging, coadministration can occur. 

    Due to both vaccines carrying a small risk of developing myocarditis, in circumstances where ACAM 2000 and COVID 19 vaccination is required, an interval of 4 weeks could be considered. 

资源

作者： Francesca Machingaifa（MVEC 教育护士协调员）和 Rachael McGuire（MVEC 教育护士协调员）

审核人： Rachael McGuire（MVEC 教育护士协调员）

日期: March 2024

本章节内的材料将随着新信息和新疫苗的出现而进行更新。墨尔本疫苗教育中心（MVEC）职员定期审阅材料的准确性。

本站点的信息并非针对你个人健康或你家人个人健康的特定、专业的医疗建议。对于医疗方面的问题，包括有关免疫接种、药物治疗和其他治疗的决定，你务必咨询医疗保健专业人士。