Editorial: We all have a duty to protect the vulnerable – get vaxxed

As the state faces a back-to-school “flunami”, now is certainly the time for us all to roll up our sleeves, writes the editor.

With alarming new figures showing a shocking spike in severe influenza cases among Queensland children – and kids heading back to school tomorrow after the holidays – now is certainly the time for us all to roll up our sleeves and get the flu shot.

As revealed exclusively by The Sunday Mail today, 20 children with influenza are being hospitalised every day in Queensland and there are real fears the situation is about to get much worse.

Chief health officer John Gerrard has warned the number of flu-ridden kids in hospital is on track to rise to 50 a day within the next 2-3 weeks – and that is before the flu season even peaks next month.

To put that in perspective, Dr Gerrard says: “Covid-19 at its worst has never resulted in more children in hospital than influenza at its worst.”

With the holidays at an end, Dr Gerrard believes schools and daycare centres could become ground zero for a wave of severe, and potentially deadly, illness and is pleading for Queenslanders to get vaccinated so they don’t risk spreading the flu to vulnerable citizens, particularly the elderly.

Australian Bureau of Statistics figures released last week reveal that 119 Queenslanders died from influenza last year, and there have already been 37 deaths so far this year.

According to Queensland Health data, 2666 cases of the flu were diagnosed across the state this week, bringing to more than 24,000 the number of confirmed cases so far this year.

About one in 10 of those cases has required hospitalisation.

After the “get the jab” mantra of the Covid-19 era, there are concerns from health experts that “vaccine fatigue” has resulted in worryingly low levels of influenza vaccinations in Queensland this year.

It’s a major reason why the state government continued its rollout of free flu shots this year, for all Queenslanders aged six months and over, as part of a $40m initiative.

Announcing in April that the two-year scheme would continue, Premier Steven Miles noted flu vaccine uptake had dropped significantly last year, with only a third of eligible Queenslanders having the jab compared with 2022.

“While it might seem like the common cold, influenza can be deadly, which is why it’s so important to get a flu shot every year,” he said.

People die from influenza. And it’s usually our most vulnerable – such as children and the elderly – whom we all have a duty to protect.

Speaking this week, Dr Gerrard said there were two distinct strains of dangerous influenza A that were spreading rapidly in the community – and both were covered by available vaccines.

He wants Queenslanders to halt the momentum. And we should all be paying attention.

With the vaccine a safe and proven (not to mention free) way to stop the flu scourge spreading, there is, as the chief health officer said, really no excuse not to get it.

STILL IN RACE OR BIDEN TIME?

US President Joe Biden would have been hopeful his prime-time interview in which he attempted to reassure Americans of his ability to lead would quash any attempts from within his party to push him out before the election.

But it has become clear that he still faces an incredibly uncertain future.

During the 22-minute interview with Good Morning America co-anchor George Stephanopoulos, Mr Biden rejected concerns about his age and health, denied he was on track to lose to Donald Trump and argued only “the Lord Almighty” could convince him to drop out of the election race.

But on the same day, reports emerged influential Democratic Senator Mark Warner was working to gather support among his colleagues to ask the President to drop his re-election bid.

It could all move very quickly over the next couple of days.

The 81-year-old’s debate disaster more than a week ago has sparked a sequence of events that will severely impact his re-election chances – or the chances of his replacement, if that happens.

American politics are always fascinating, and this year’s election campaign is no different.

It’s one big show – and it’s hard to take your eyes off it.

Responsibility for election comment is taken by Melanie Pilling, corner of Mayne Rd & Campbell St, Bowen Hills, Qld 4006. Printed and published by NEWSQUEENSLAND (ACN 009 661 778). Contact details here

Originally published as Editorial: We all have a duty to protect the vulnerable – get vaxxed