Infectious disease expert warns Queensland’s most vulnerable over ‘multidemic’

Queensland’s most vulnerable are being warned over a “multidemic” sweeping the state, while Covid case numbers continue to surge amid a third wave.

One of Australia’s top infectious disease experts has warned of a ‘multidemic’ sweeping the state which will target the most vulnerable.

It comes as Queensland doctors calling for some slack to immunise patients who don’t meet the criteria but are deserving of a fourth Covid vaccine.

Infectious disease expert from the University of Sydney Robert Booy said Australia’s long history of lockdowns and restrictions had been so successful in keeping Covid at bay, it also protected people from common winter viruses and in turn, lowered society’s “natural immunity.”

He said Queensland was now facing a ‘multidemic’ – multiple respiratory virus outbreaks – due to people’s vulnerable immune systems and the ‘closed-in’ winter conditions which made it harder to socially distance.

Professor Robert Booy. Picture: Supplied

“We’re facing a multidemic of respiratory viruses, there’s three or four of them causing trouble … influenza, RSV, para-influenza, adenovirus, HMPV, there are a lot,” Mr Booy said.

“Winter naturally leads to perspiration, indoor crowding and lack of adequate ventilation.

“Because were locked down for two years, the level of natural immunity dropped off against flu and Covid, so we happen to have a lot of cases and deaths due to Omicron and the opening of a society with less natural immunity.

“If you want to spread and infection, you open up society.”

Dr Booy said lower natural immunity levels had led to Queensland’s latest rapid rise in Covid and Influenza cases and expects the third pandemic wave would last until August.

The state recorded 5,878 new Covid cases and four deaths on Wednesday, with 705 people now in hospital care.

“The Ba4 and 5 Omicron sub-variants have mutated to further, genetically altered in order to escape immunity, whether that’s from natural immunity or vaccination, but they’re not more transmissible,” Mr Booy said.

Queenslanders are being warned about a ‘multidemic’ sweeping the state. Picture: John Gass

“By August, we would have built up our own natural immunity and transmission will be less common, and more and more people will be protected.

“This combination of natural immunity and or vaccination means that Omicron will peak probably this month and will start going down in August, basically because it (Covid) will run out of vulnerable and susceptible people to chase.”

But Professor Booy warned that even if Omicron cases began to dwindle, Covid still had the potential to mutate into yet another variant “of concern.”

“What we don’t know, is will there be yet another variant of concern, another variant that could be completely unlike Omicron,” he said.

“It’s possible that suddenly a new variant could arise which is genetically different and also very transmissible.”

His advice for Queenslanders in the meantime was to wear masks, maintain good hygiene and vaccinate whenever possible.

“The important point to make is we have a safe, effective, free vaccines available for flu and Covid,” he said.

“Continue wearing mask, continue to social distance, wash your hands, get a booster when it’s available.

“The numbers, just as they’ve gone up, they will go down.”

Queensland doctors want some leeway to be able to give people a fourth Covid vaccine even if they don’t meet the criteria. Picture: AFP)

Meanwhile, Queensland GPs report that patients are demanding the extra protection but are just outside of the age limit. Other patients are desperately seeking the jab as they can’t afford to be off work sick.

“The Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation’s (ATAGI) rules around the vaccine are strict and doctors have no leeway. Of course it is important that the vaccine is reserved for the most vulnerable but doctors should be able to make their judgment for medical reasons when faced with a patient,” Dr Bruce Willett, Queensland chair of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners said.

As ATAGI meets on Wednesday to discuss expanding the fourth dose rollout, the GPs have been given no indication of if and when a further rollout could happen.

“With thousands of new cases of Omicron each day doctors are completely overwhelmed with Covid and influenza. And of course surgeries are dealing with their own staff being off sick,” he said.