Flu cases plummet: perks of social isolation and increased flu vaccine

There has been a massive drop in the number of flu cases in Australia, thanks to COVID-19 social isolation measures and an increase in flu vaccines.

A shopper wears a face masks in Woolworths. Picture: AAP

Cases of the flu have plummeted this year as social distancing measures and work-from-home regimes have kept people apart as part of the response to COVID-19.

Department of Health data showed just 20,743 cases of influenza were confirmed across the country to June this year — compared with 132,424 cases in the same period last year.

The data showed 169 people contracted the flu in June compared with the same period last year, when 57,937 cases were recorded — equivalent to a 99.7 per cent drop in infections.

Royal Australian College of General Practitioners President Harry Nespolon said the drop in cases could be attributed to the COVID-19 and the number of people who got an early flu vaccination.

“The fall in influenza infections is to be expected given the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in Australians social distancing, regularly washing their hands and coughing or sneezing into their elbow,” Dr Nespolon said.

“A significant number of patients also heeded our advice and got their flu vaccination earlier than usual,” he said.

The number of people who decided to get a flu vaccination also dramatically increased compared to previous years.

More than 8.5 million flu vaccines were administered by doctors and pharmacists between March 1 and June 30 this year, compared with more than 6.5 million in the same time period in 2019, and about 4.6 million the year before that.

Australian Medical Association President Tony Bartone said this year people “heeded the call to have the flu jab”.

“Last year’s flu season was one of Australia’s worst. It started early, and it lasted longer,” Dr Bartone said.

“The increase in vaccinations, combined with social distancing and hygiene measures since the start of COVID-19, are contributing to the reduction in influenza cases this year.”

Scott Morrison first announced nationwide social isolation measures designed to halt the spread of coronavirus in March.

Flu infections dropped to 5895 in March compared with 11,227 in the same month last year.

The downward trend continued over the next three months as cases continued to fall.

In April, just 308 confirmed cases of the flu were recorded compared to 18,691 in the same month last year.

The national figure further dropped to 229 cases in May, compared with 30,568 recorded at the same time in 2020.

The severity of the first COVID-19 isolation measures increased after they were announced in March and eventually saw the government introduce measures that shut down pubs, clubs and gyms in a bid to slow the rate of infections that disease modellers said could have peaked at 125,000 per day.

But in May the Prime Minister said Australians had earned an “early mark” and announced the National Cabinet had agreed to bring forward consideration of an easing of COVID-19 restrictions.