Because of the limited, to no exposure to the seasonal virus due to COVID in the previous two years, the upcoming flu season is anticipated to affect Australians hard.
The experts from The Royal College of Pathologists of Australia revealed it was expected to be a terrible flu season this year due to low vaccine uptake last year and low flu circulation globally.
Australians are being encouraged to obtain their flu shots, as authorities prepare for a possible ‘twindemic,’ or a widespread outbreak of both flu and COVID-19.
Jenny Robson from RCPA said that people should get vaccinated as soon as possible.
“With the relatively recent opening of international borders, it is highly likely that we will see more influenza cases in Australia in 2022,” she said in a statement on Tuesday.
Winter booster doses are available for people at higher risk of #COVID19 this winter❄️
For more information and to find out who should have a winter dose visit💻 https://t.co/0NBpo6gZIy pic.twitter.com/Y546qoxlzo
— Australian Government Department of Health (@healthgovau) April 24, 2022
She stressed the importance of vaccination for children aged six months to five years, individuals over 65, people with chronic conditions, Indigenous peoples, and pregnant women.
The peak flu season is normally between July and September, but the virus is notoriously difficult to predict, and the RCPA believes this year’s peak could be sooner than usual, with cases of Influenza A already in the community.