Coronavirus: 16m Aussies are unprotected from fifth wave of the Covid virus

Covid cases are up and so are hospitalisations and people taking time off work as a huge number of Aussies are left vulnerable to the virus. See what’s happening in your state.

The nation’s top doctor is urging Australians to get their Covid booster jabs and flu vaccinations as a fifth wave of coronavirus drives a significant rise in workers taking sick leave.

Covid cases were up 28 per cent over the past month and hospitalisations are on the rise.

But at the same time as cases have been rising, the number of people getting vaccinated is in decline – falling by 10,000 per week over the past three weeks – with 16.6 million Australians not having had a booster in more than six months.

The health system and workplaces are weathering an increase in sick leave as Australia faces a triple whammy of winter viral illness.

An Australian HR Institute poll of its members this week found 82 per cent reported an increase in employees taking sick leave.

One in three of the 200 HR professionals who responded said the uptick in sick leave use was “significant”.

Millions of Australians are eligible for a Covid booster. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Nikki Short

The wave of sick leave comes as a new Australian study shows the effectiveness of the Covid vaccine plunges six months after the last vaccination.

Since the start of 2023, there have been more than 557,000 reported Covid cases nationally, and more than 2,600 deaths.

Protection against death from Covid among the over 65 age group stood at 84 per cent three months after they had a booster jab, but fell to just 56 per cent by six months, research by the National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance (NCIRS) found.

Alarmingly, nearly three million Australians aged over 65 have not had this year’s booster even though they are the group most at risk from the virus.

“They’re really vulnerable, vulnerability increases with age,” NCRIS researcher Professor Bette Liu said.

“This isn’t just having serious Covid, this is actually dying from Covid”.

Chief Medical Officer, Professor Paul Kelly. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gary Ramage

Australia’s Chief Medical Officer Paul Kelly appealed to those in higher-risk groups to “top up their protection levels” with a booster shot, especially if it has been six months or more since their last shot.

“It is really important people understand that a Covid-19 vaccine booster will not protect you against the flu. And a flu vaccine will not protect you against Covid-19,” Pof Kelly said.

“They are different viruses – and you need both vaccines to protect you against both viruses. But the good news is that you can have the vaccines at the same time,” he said.

Covid is the most dominant virus circulating while flu cases are also increasing rapidly – up 66 per cent in NSW in the week to May 20 and by a further 36.3 per cent to May 27.

Deakin University epidemiologist Professor Catherine Bennett said the XBB variants of Covid are now dominant accounting for 80 per cent of infections.

Dr Mukesh Haikerwal administers Covid vaccines. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

NSW government genomic sequencing shows the XBB 1.6 variant dubbed “Arcturus” is on the rise.

It has been associated with typical cold and flu symptoms as well as conjunctivitis, or pink eye but has not produced more serious illness than other types of Covid.

There were twice as many cases of flu in April this year compared to last year with 55,610 notifications reported so far this year.

Getting your Covid and flu jabs on the same day is the most efficient way to get prepped for the winter viral season. And clinical studies have shown there is no increase in side effects when you do this.

Sick leave is on the rise as Australia battles another wave of Covid infections.

The multi-pronged viral surge is putting huge pressure on general practice.

Healthengine data shows between April 24 and May 22, there was an 8.6 per cent increase in GP practice in-person appointments and a 25 per cent increase in GP telehealth bookings and requests for telehealth medical certificates.

Melbourne GP Dr Mukesh Haikerwal said he was seeing instances where almost every student on a school camp was infected with Covid.