Victorians urged to book in for vaccine boosters ahead of winter flu season
Victorians are being urged to rethink when they book in for their vaccine boosters amid fears this winter will result in more hospitalisations.
Victoria
Don't miss out on the headlines from Victoria. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Victorians are being urged to wait until May to get their flu vaccines in an effort to overlap peak immunity with peak flu season.
A nasty triple threat of Covid, flu and rhinovirus is expected to tear through Melbourne earlier than usual with a particularly bad strain likely causing a higher rate of hospitalisation.
Bupa Health Insurance chief medical officer Dr Tony MacDermott said northern hemisphere medical modelling suggested the flu season would hit harder than normal and he urged people to be wise when timing their vaccinations.
“We’re anticipating a perfect storm of flu, Covid and other flu-like viruses to come together this winter,” Dr MacDermott said.
“The best protection will always be prevention, and our advice to people who are due for their Covid booster is to get their flu shot together with their Covid booster ahead of the winter season.
“Each virus is different, affecting individuals in different ways, so it’s important to get both shots – and they’re perfectly safe to receive on the same day.”
The flu trends from the United States have shown hospitalisation rates are significantly higher than the previous year and Dr MacDermott said Australians need to be prepared for the trends to be mirrored in our own flu season.
“The higher risk of being hospitalised with the flu this year means it’s even more important to get vaccinated, especially for high-risk groups,” he said.
“With Australians effectively back to normal lifestyles we’re expecting to see more Covid and flu cases this year.
“Our hospitals remain under strain, so protecting yourself and potentially avoiding a hospital visit will also help take some pressure off the health system.”
Victoria was slammed by flu in 2022, with the Department of Health recording 36,585 cases.
Dr MacDermott said it was important to maintain the basic, everyday hygiene practices people had perfected over the past three years – including comprehensive handwashing and staying home if you feel unwell.
High risk groups for the unholy trinity of viruses include infants under six-months-old, adults 65 years and above, people with chronic health conditions, and the Indigenous community.
Originally published as Victorians urged to book in for vaccine boosters ahead of winter flu season
Racing Hall of Famer’s Vic farm for sale with 4 ponies, 80 cows
Australian horse racing legend Pat Hyland, whose wins include the Melbourne Cup and Cox Plate, and his wife Maree are saddling up to sell their farm an hour south east of Melbourne.
Most spectacular photos from the Melbourne Cup Tour
As the biggest prize in Australian racing returns home to wrap up its five-month world tour, check out photos from the most striking destinations – from New York to the Northern Territory.
Key problem with Allan govt’s construction watchdog plan
Building groups have warned the Vic government’s plans to fix the state’s construction watchdog needs more than a new name, with evidence that the proposed key fix will ‘struggle’.
$50k memberships: Inside Melb developer’s luxe South Yarra gym
Wealthy property developer Tim Gurner, who once claimed “arrogant” workers need to be sacked, is charging eye-watering fees for memberships to his gyms. See the video and full list of what’s included.
Childhood trauma is criminalised, youth advocate warns
A leading youth advocate has warned “we are criminalising childhood trauma” after new data revealed the majority of young people in the youth justice system were themselves victims of child abuse and maltreatment.
AFLW star Rocky Cranston felt great. Turns out, she had kidney disease
AFLW star Richelle “Rocky” Cranston was at the top of her game before she suddenly went blind in one eye. She had been living with chronic kidney disease — she just didn’t know it.