Covid Tasmania: Experts push for Covid booster and flu shot as new sickness wave looms

As deaths from Covid continue, Tasmanians are being urged to get boosters and flu shots with doctors saying infection rates are “taking off and complacency is setting in”. LATEST FIGURES >>

As deaths from Covid continue, Tasmanians are being urged to get boosters and flu shots with doctors saying infection rates are “taking off and complacency is setting in”.

In a warning for the winter season, the Australian Medical Association says more than 16.5 million Australians have not received a Covid booster shot in more than six months, and “while some of these people may have had a bout of Covid in the last six months, it is a very high figure”.

Another four Tasmanians died with Covid in the past weekly reporting period, taking the death toll to 295.

The number of new cases fell from 1241 to 964.

Hospital admissions rose from 39 to 42, and the number of patients in intensive care rose from one to two.

AMA Tasmanian president Dr John Saul said Covid complacency meant some people were no longer testing.

“We have to be careful at looking at the case numbers because there is under-testing and under-reporting,” he said.

AMA Tasmania President Dr John Saul. Picture: Chris Kidd

“The number of people in hospital and in ICU and the deaths are more reflective of what is really happening.”

AMA federal president Steve Robson said Australia faced a worrying fifth wave of Covid with cases rising to an average of 5517 per day by the end of May – more than double the rate in March.

“The age of lockdowns and restrictions is over, so it’s understandable why many people are falling into a false sense of security, but the latest data shows the virus is infecting thousands of Australians every day,” Professor Robson said.

“Now is not the time for complacency, and the AMA urges people to get up to date on their boosters, which is an extremely effective way to protect yourself and your loved ones.”

Doctors say the number of influenza cases is also rising.

Professor Robson said Covid boosters and flu shots were separate vaccines that could be safely administered at the same time.

“We are seeing a significant spike in the number of flu and Covid cases, making this a potentially dangerous winter, particularly for elderly and immunocompromised people,” he said.

“Having a Covid-19 booster and a flu shot at the same time is an effective and safe way of ensuring you are protected.”

Professor Robson also urged parents to ensure their children were protected.