04 Oct 2017 Myrtleford Times, Myrtleford VIC (General News) by Jamie Kronborg State injects extra $126,932 to help lift vaccinations within Alpine Shire ALPINE Health has been allocated almost $127,000 to boost influenza vaccinations in Alpine communities. It is among a swath of country health services to share $115 million from the Victorian government to minimise influenza outbreaks in the wake of a bad flu season. Jaclyn Symes (MLC, Northern Victoria) said Alpine Health would receive $126,932 as part of a boost to vaccination funding. Nearby Beechworth Health Service is to get $78,600 and Northeast Health Wangaratta a sizeable $1.35 million to pay for the expanded vaccination roll-out. Ms Symes said the funding should provide some relief from a massive surge in demand this winter. St Johns Village aged care facility in Wangaratta was particularly affected, with a flu infection leading to the deaths of eight residents. Ms Symes said this season had put Victorias health system under sustained pressure with more than 14,000 flu cases reported across the state. She said there had been a surge in people visiting emergency departments and in August alone more than 3900 people visited emergency departments each day the largest for the month on record. Ms Symes said the funding boost would support local hospitals to ensure a record number of patients could get the care they need from emergency departments, faster, for the remainder of the year. This flu season has hit us hard and every single one of our public hospitals in country Victoria has been working overtime so Victorians can continue to have access to the care they need when they need it, Ms Symes said. Our dedicated doctors, nurses, paramedics and other healthcare workers have done a remarkable job in the face of unprecedented demand ensuring patients are receiving the first class care they deserve. Hospitals across Victoria, including here in Northern Victoria have been feeling the pressure this flu season. This government funding will be key to supporting our local hospitals to keep delivering the quality care our patients need. Hospitals across Victoria, including here in Northern Victoria, have been feeling the pressure this flu season. Jaclyn Symes Licensed by Copyright Agency. You may only copy or communicate this work with a licence.