Illawarra residents are being urged to book their flu vaccination amid an explosion of influenza cases across NSW in recent weeks, with health experts warning young children face the greatest risk of becoming seriously ill due to a lack of immunity to the virus.
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There were 317 cases of influenza reported across the state between April 10-April 16, and 273 cases reported the week before, bringing the total number of cases for the year to 974, according to the most recent NSW Government's Communicable Diseases report.
This compared with just 19 cases by the same time in 2021.
The total number of reported flu cases in NSW for all of 2021 was just 124, compared with 7488 in 2020.
In comparison there were 116,431 confirmed flu cases in NSW in 2019 - the year before COVID-19 lockdowns and restrictions commenced.
Experts fear that complacency about the flu, 'vaccine fatigue' and a lack of flu immunity caused by fewer cases in recent years due to lockdowns and restrictions could result in a perfect storm and lead to an explosion in flu cases this winter.
Young children at 'increased risk' this winter
Health Protection NSW acting executive director Dr Vicky Sheppeard said young children were making up a higher proportion of flu cases than two years ago.
"Almost two in 10 flu notifications (17 per cent) in March were kids aged under five, compared with one in 10 (10 per cent) for the same period in 2019," Dr Sheppeard said.
"With international borders reopening, increased social mixing and lower exposure to influenza over the past two years, more people of all ages will be at risk of influenza than in the past two years, when COVID-19 safeguard measures offered us greater protection.
"This year there is particular concern for those young children aged two and under, who have never lived through a flu season or gained any immunity to the virus."
It has sparked NSW Health to urge parents to have children under the age of five vaccinated against the flu.
Children can be vaccinated for flu from the age of six months to under five years for free at their GP under the National Immunisation Program.
While no influenza vaccines are licenced for use in children less than six months of age, vaccination during pregnancy does provide protection to infants in the early months of life.
"Women can get the flu shot at any time during pregnancy. It takes at least two weeks to make antibodies after getting a flu vaccine and those antibodies are passed on to the baby, offering a newborn protection against influenza," Dr Sheppeard said.
"We have plenty of vaccine supply available across NSW, so please book in with your GP now."
Wollongong pharmacist expects vaccine rush ahead of winter
Pharmacist Thomas Ho of Downtown Mediadvice Pharmacy in Wollongong, said staff there had administered about 50 flu shots so far this year. He expects they will reach about 300 before the flu season starts to peak next month.
He said most of his customers were regulars and he wasn't seeing any sign of 'vaccine fatigue'.
"Over the last couple of years, particularly because of the pandemic, we are not seeing any kind of bad behaviour such as vaccine hesitancy. Most people are trying to get their flu vaccine so they don't make it worse for themselves by getting the flu and COVID-19," he said.
Pharmacist Raphael Aluede of Dapto Centretown Pharmacy is also encouraging residents "not to be complacent about the flu" this year.
"Last year flu numbers were down, largely because of lockdowns and isolation," Mr Aluede said.
"This year is going to be a lot different and we anticipate it will be a very tough flu season.
"Many people fail to recognise how dangerous the flu is. However, getting vaccinated is the way to protect yourself and your community."
Children aged 10 and over and adults can also book a flu jab at pharmacies, with those considered at higher risk of severe illness from eligible for a free flu vaccine.
Free vaccines can be administered by GPs or pharmacists (except for children under 10, who must see a GP) to anyone at risk of severe illness. This includes:
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people from six months of age
- Children from six months to under five years of age
- People with serious health conditions (including severe asthma, diabetes, cancer, immune disorders, obesity, kidney, heart, lung or liver disease)
- Pregnant women
- People aged 65 and over.
For more information visit the NSW Health Influenza page.
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Merryn Porter
Journalist with more than 25 years' experience in print and digital media who has covered most news rounds, including health, education, politics (local, state and federal), police and courts, with a special interest in women's and family matters. Highly-skilled interviewer and storyteller.
Journalist with more than 25 years' experience in print and digital media who has covered most news rounds, including health, education, politics (local, state and federal), police and courts, with a special interest in women's and family matters. Highly-skilled interviewer and storyteller.
