Solely 15 per cent of Aussies have had this 12 months's flu vaccine because it turned accessible in April, in comparison with the 49 per cent of the inhabitants who had acquired the jab by this time final 12 months.
In the meantime, up till Might 8, virtually 11,000 circumstances of flu had been recorded in Australia, in comparison with the simply 240 circumstances that had been recorded right now in 2021.
NSW Australian Medical Affiliation President Dr Danielle McMullen instructed Immediately Australians are rather more weak to the flu than they had been final 12 months as a result of COVID-19 restrictions hindered the unfold of the virus.
"Over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic we closed our worldwide borders so there was a lot much less flu coming in, we did all our social distancing, wore masks, all these measures did a unbelievable job of stopping the flu. We had none," she mentioned.
Dr McMullen has warned flu will be lethal, advising individuals to take precautions, simply as they did to fight COVID-19.
"Influenza could be a life-threatening sickness in youngsters, pregnant ladies, older individuals - anybody actually - so it's simply essential that every one Australians ought to be vaccinated," she mentioned.
Pandemics all through historical past, as coronavirus outbreak formally upgraded
"Put on a masks, wash your palms, maintain a distance once more, once more, once more."
The flu vaccine is obtainable free for over 65s, kids underneath 5, pregnant ladies, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander individuals and people with sure medical situations.
For all different Australians, it is accessible for much less that $25 at GPs and pharmacies.