Doctors are warning us to roll up our sleeves and make sure our flu jabs are up to date, with declining flu vaccination rates and an early start to flu season creating the perfect storm.
Flu vaccinations among high-risk groups have been declining in recent years. Last year, only 61% of adults aged more than 65 were reportedly protected against the flu, compared to 70% in 2022. Among children under five, years, only a quarter were vaccinated for the flu last year, down from almost a third a few years ago.
A pattern seen in the Northern Hemisphere also suggests the flu season may start in Australia earlier than usual – the USA recording the worst season since 2009 and many hospitals in the UK were also swamped with flu cases.
Queensland has had more than 10,000 influenza cases this year alone, including almost 800 in Cairns.
Experts say infants aged six months to five years, adults aged 65 years and above, pregnant women, people with chronic health conditions, and the indigenous community are the most vulnerable groups to the flu.
The flu vaccine is available for free for North Queenslanders in these at-risk groups.
