Vaccination warning ahead of flu season

ONE of Toowoomba's leading public health experts has warned residents of the importance of getting a flu vaccine ahead of the next flu season.

Darling Downs Public Health Unit director Dr Penny Hutchinson explains meningococcal disease after a case was diagnosed in he city last week. January 2017. Picture: Bev Lacey

ONE of Toowoomba's leading public health experts has warned residents of the importance of getting a flu vaccine ahead of the next flu season.

Darling Downs Public Health Unit Director Dr Penny Hutchinson said it was important for people to get vaccinated against influenza after a horror flu season last year.

One in 45 people was hospitalised as a result of influenza in the region last year, with 5313 cases reported, up from 1864 in 2016.  

"Influenza mostly affects young children and older people, but young healthy people can become severely unwell with influenza," Dr Hutchinson said.  

"For anybody who has an elderly grandparent, to help protect them as well as themselves, vaccination a good idea.  

"It's the concept of herd immunity."  

She said it was important people got vaccinated at the right time.  

"It takes two weeks for the vaccine to be fully protective," she said.  

"We're recommending people get vaccinated in April or May."  

Dr Hutchinson said it was important that no matter who you were if you had signs of influenza you should stay home from work or school.  

"Stay at home and rest," she said.  

"If you keep going to work or school you'll spread it around to other people."  

There are several programs that provide free flu vaccinations to certain groups, including young children, pregnant women, people who have other underlying health issues, the elderly, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders and more. 

Dr Hutchinson said people should check with their GP to see if they were eligible to get a free vaccine.   

The Darling Downs Hospital and Health Service is also looking at a number of options to better manage flu hospitalisations, which could include opening a functioning ward at the Baillie Henderson Hospital.

Originally published as Vaccination warning ahead of flu season