Influenza is a serious, highly contagious respiratory disease and it can be deadly. Thousands of laboratory-confirmed cases and hundreds of influenza-associated deaths are reported in Australia every year. Every year, except 2020.

Last year, Australia experienced a historical low. Just over 20,000 cases of flu and 37 deaths were recorded in 2020. In 2019, more than 800 influenza-associated deaths were recorded out of almost 300,000 confirmed cases. The median age of deaths was 86 years old.

When COVID-19 reached Australia in early 2020, people were frightened and for the most part eager to comply with public health restrictions and advice to prevent its spread. We embraced social hygiene rules, washing and sanitising our hands raw, coughing and sneezing into our elbows, wearing masks and maintaining social distancing rules. We painfully adhered to stay-at-home orders, we isolated and millions of us fronted up for our flu vaccine. A record 18 million doses of the influenza vaccine were made available.

In 2020, we did all the right things as a community to not only prevent the spread of COVID-19 but also influenza. Laboratory-confirmed cases of influenza are low again this year as we've continued many of the social hygiene habits we learned in our defence against COVID-19. As of June 6, 2021, there have been just 326 confirmed cases of influenza and no deaths.

Looking at these numbers it would be easy to fall into a false sense of security, believing that the risk of catching flu is low to nil. For many people, catching the flu may be the last thing on their minds given the continued hyper focus on COVID-19. However, some experts have warned the flu could be more prevalent this year with a later start to the flu season which usually occurs from June through September.

Unfortunately the somewhat confusing and lengthy rollout of the COVID-19 vaccine has led to a lot of people in the general population delaying getting the flu vaccine. So far this season only 7.3 million Australians have had their flu vaccine.

There was a lot of excitement in February 2021 when it was announced that the COVID-19 vaccine would be made available to Australians starting with the most at risk - frontline health employees and aged care residents. People wanted to do the right thing. They wanted to get the vaccine.

However, a series of supply and logistical delays early in the rollout, confusion around who is eligible and when, followed by the issue of blood clots from the AstraZeneca vaccine has resulted in vaccine hesitancy. People are now wavering over the COVID-19 vaccine and potentially putting off the flu vaccine as well.

This hesitancy could have deadly consequences. Don't wait, get either vaccine as soon as you can. This is especially important if you have contact with the elderly or other vulnerable groups.

Last year, the Australian government for the first time mandated that anyone entering an aged care centre must show proof of having received the flu vaccine. This mandate is being upheld again this year and went into effect on June 1, 2021 to protect a very vulnerable population.

Please don't fall for the common myths that getting the flu vaccine will give you the flu. This is not true. It's also not true that you "don't need a flu shot" because you "never get sick". The influenza may not be making you sick, but you certainly could be spreading it. Vaccination limits spread. As with COVID-19, you yourself might feel OK, but if someone who is sick has coughed on you, sneezed on you or on a surface you've touched there's every risk that you are a carrier. The bottom line is flu seasons are unpredictable and can take many lives. Influenza is particularly deadly for people over 65 years and other vulnerable groups. The best first line of defence is to get the flu vaccine as soon as you can. This isn't just for your own protection either, it protects those around you. Particularly those who, for medical reasons, are unable to get the vaccine. The more people who are vaccinated against the flu the higher our herd immunity becomes and the less likely the flu is to be passed around.

Preventing the spread of COVID-19 and influenza is the same. Get vaccinated as soon as you can. Remember to cough into your elbow. If you've got to blow your nose use a tissue and throw it straight in the bin then wash your hands with soap and water for 20 seconds; and if you're going from place to place wash your hands before and after. If you're sick don't go to work or to an aged care centre. As we've all seen this past year, these simple steps make a huge difference. Keep it up.