Time for mandates ‘over’, all Victorians eligible for free flu vaccinations

Health Minister Martin Foley says the time for mandates is over, despite a growing push by health professionals to bring back masks as winter arrives.

Health Minister Martin Foley says the time for mandates is over, despite acknowledging the health system is “under pressure like it’s never been before in living memory”.

Mr Foley on Tuesday also confirmed there is no consideration to scaling back elective surgeries again to relieve some of the stress put on the hospital system.

“We have a $1.5bn plan that we rolled out in April — a partnership with the private and public sectors — to deal with that deferred care,” he said.

Amid calls from many in the health system to introduce mask mandates ahead of winter, Mr Foley said the government had moved towards implementing an individual approach.

“We’re now in a sector of the recovery in the pandemic (which) is devolving decision making and responsibility to workplaces, to communities and to individuals,” he said.

Despite chief health officer Professor Brett Sutton having become a notable absence from the media, Mr Foley maintains the pair communicate regularly and there has been no advice to mandate mask wearing.

Victorian Health Minister Martin Foley says he’s not in favour of bringing back mask mandates. Picture: Sarah Matray

Masks are only required in limited settings, including on public transport, in hospitals and aged care facilities.

“That’s his advice to me … we have moved through a process of mandates being a thing appropriate for 2020 and 2021,” Mr Foley added.

“As we have this long plateau of recovery, it’s now a different phase of recovery of the pandemic and we now have to live safely and alongside Covid.

“Making the judgment in crowded circumstances where you can’t socially distance, that’s increasingly up to individuals and we are seeing that responsibility is being taken very seriously.”

The Herald Sun has sought comment from Professor Sutton through the Department of Health.

Asked if the government would give Professor Sutton permission to speak publicly about his advice, Mr Foley said: “When it is appropriate for the chief health officer to make public commentary, he regularly does”.

How to get your free flu jab this winter

Every Victorian will be offered a free flu shot from Wednesday.

As revealed by the Herald Sun on Monday, the Victorian government will roll out a statewide package throughout June.

Health Minister Martin Foley confirmed the package on Tuesday morning.

Flu cases have increased in Victoria by more than 30 per cent in the past week alone — from 10,000 to 15,000 — after two years of Covid-19 and reduced international travel led to limited immunity to the common winter virus.

To make access to the jab as easy as possible, more than 3000 GP clinics and community pharmacies across Victoria will be invited to offer the free flu vaccinations from this Wednesday as part of a $33m package.

All Victorians will have access to the free flu vaccination from Wednesday.

The flu vaccination is already free for eligible groups, including children under five years, people over 65 years, pregnant women, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and people with increased risk from medical conditions.

So far this year, 148 Victorians have been hospitalised with the flu. Of those, 65 were kids.

Mr Foley said winter was shaping up to be a “really nasty flu season”.

“This will be the first time in two years that we will face a real flu season,” Mr Foley said.

“We need all Victorians to roll up their sleeves and help protect their loved ones and our health system by getting vaccinated.

“Victorians really took up the call to arms when it came to Covid-19 vaccinations, and we know they can do it again — so we’re removing as many barriers as possible to help boost vaccine coverage.

“Help your family stay safe this winter by getting vaccinated.”

It comes amid desperate warnings from health experts that vaccination against surging influenza cases is needed to help alleviate the rapidly worsening hospital crisis.

The plan follows New South Wales, Queensland and South Australia, who are all offering free jabs across their states.

Victorians have been told the flu vaccine be can administered on the same day as a Covid jab. Picture: Liam Kidston

Victorian branch president of the Pharmacy Guild of Australia Anthony Tassone said the flu vaccine was safe and could be administered on the same day as a Covid jab.

“You can’t catch the flu from the flu vaccine,” he said.

Children who haven’t had the flu vaccine before require two doses four weeks apart.

Mr Tassone said getting vaccinated against the flu would help the under-pressure hospital network.

Mr Foley said about six million Victorians are eligible for the vaccine.

More than 1.2 million people have already been vaccinated for flu, he said.

“We’re confident over the next four weeks we will address the vast majority of that population,” he said.

Mr Foley said a number of Covid vaccination hubs were still operational and would also deliver the flu jabs.

Victorians are being urged not to panic buy Panadol and Nurfoen. Picture: Dylan Robinson

Warning against panic buying

Parents have been urged to not panic buy Panadol and Nurofen, amid the “combined pressures” of Covid and flu in the community.

Victorian branch president of the Pharmacy Guild of Australia Anthony Tassone said paracetamol and ibuprofen were “very effective medicines” to treat illness.

But some pharmacists have been forced to implement purchase limits on these products, which don’t require a prescription.

“We’ve certainly seen an increase in demand for those products in pharmacies recently,” Mr Tassone said.

“I think everyone of us will have experienced, whether it’s in the workplace, at home, at school or junior sport, widespread illness, whether it’s flu, colds or Covid.”

Mr Tassone said his pharmacy — and many others — had sold out of the products in recent weeks.

“They did return to stock, maybe not across the full product range, but there were products available returning to stock late last week,” he said.

“We do encourage the public to please not panic buy.”

Doctor surgeries and pharmacies are experiencing an influx of patients seeking vaccination influenza. Picture: Brendan Radke

Jab rollout to ease case surge

Australian Medical Association Victorian president Roderick McRae on Monday said it was only a matter of time before the program was formally unveiled.

“The system is incredibly stressed days before we reach winter – it’s a long ride to go.

“We’ve had time. There’s been notice. We know what’s going, and we’re observing admission rates increasing – particularly in ICU – among the younger aged groups.”

Mr Tassone said there had been “really encouraging” discussions with the government about what could be done to help address costs as a potential barrier.

The flu vaccine costs about $25 on average, but varies between places.

As of last Sunday, 1,655,169 Victorians have received a flu vaccine, just behind more than 1.8 million people in New South Wales.

Mr Tassone said the jab – most commonly delivered at pharmacies and GPs – is the “best way” to protect from the flu.

“We haven’t been exposed to the flu virus on any scale since 2019,” he said.

“While we may feel tired and have vaccine fatigue, the flu doesn’t care whether we have had Covid.”

The flu vaccine costs about $25 on average but the cost can vary.

Influenza cases are difficult to track, but Dr McRae said he expected the amount of flu in the community was similar to coronavirus.

Victoria on Sunday recorded 7372 new Covid infections, bringing the number of active cases across the state to 63,428.

“It’s very difficult to know exactly how much flu is out there but we have no reason to expect anything less than Covid,” Dr McRae explained.

Mr Andrews said it has “never been more important than right now” for Victorians to roll up their sleeves and get a flu jab.

“It does take avoidable pressure off our system,” he said.

Meanwhile, Mr Andrews defended the decision to keep the seven-day isolation order in place for people with Covid but not for influenza.

“Covid, though, is a different beast. If and when (those rules) are removed, that’ll be a matter for the health minister,” he said.