Not the year to skip your flu shot

With the opening of borders, increased socialising and removal of face mask mandates for the first time in two years, those that are vulnerable could be severely affected.

Wendy Towan from Waranga Medical Centre said due to pandemic restrictions during the past couple of years, flu infection numbers had been at a record low.

“The past couple years we haven’t had large flu infections and now we will probably have an insurgence of cases,” she said.

Ms Towan said social distancing, masks and every precaution possible to prevent cross infection in place for COVID-19 had helped stamp out the flu — all of which wouldn’t be in place this winter.

“This is 100 per cent why vaccination is so important coming into this flu season,” she said.

“Vaccination gives you that protection and on the back of COVID, we don’t want another resurgence of flu after the two years we’ve had.”

Ms Towan said people in the workforce should consider it, as it protected against spreading it among co-workers, as well as at home.

“(The vaccine is important) to keep our families and friends safe, as well as our aged care. We really want to make sure we keep it out of our aged care facilities,” she said.

Clinics are held on a weekly basis at Waranga, and places to get the shot can be found on the Australian Government Department of Health’s website: https://www.health.gov.au/health-topics/immunisation/getting-vaccinated