Doctors urging people to still get flu vaccine after high rates of illness

DOCTORS are urging people to still get the flu vaccine to prevent an encore of the dreaded virus, even though flu season is nearing its end.

Flu season is nearly over, but many have suffered their second infection of the virus. Picture: iStock

DOCTORS are urging people to still get the flu vaccine to prevent an encore of the dreaded virus.

While there are no figures of how many people have suffered repeated bouts of flu this year, many are anecdotally suffering their second infection of the flu virus.

The president of the Australian Medical Association Victoria, Dr Lorraine Baker, said the flu vaccine provides protection but not lasting immunity.

“We need people who haven’t been vaccinated to consider getting vaccinated now because influenza cases are still being reported at a very high rate,” Dr Baker said.

“If you’ve already had the flu this year and not been vaccinated, you still have no protection from the other strains of the virus that are out there.

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“Unless you had a swab taken at the time of your infection, you can’t be sure you have had it.”

Dr Baker said the flu vaccine covered four strains of the virus with Influenza Type A being the most common. Influenza Type B is also around and it has similar symptoms so it can only be identified by a medical swab.

Those who have already suffered Influenza Type A this year will have probably developed an immunity to that strain, but not the other 15 strains of flu viruses that exist.

“People should remember that the flu is a full body infection that affects the lungs and different organs that, in people with an underlying illness, it can be fatal or serious,” Dr Baker said.

“If people are sensible and feel unwell, they should withdraw from contact with the general public, family and friends to contain the spread of the infection.

“We strongly recommend those who haven’t been immunised against it, do so, because it’s out there in the community.”

Eight people died in the past week after a deadly influenza outbreak at a Wangaratta nursing home.

Victorian Infectious Diseases Reference Laboratory figures showed the number of notified laboratory-confirmed flu cases in Victoria for the year to July 2 was 81 per cent higher than those at the same time in 2016.