Hunter New England Health are predicting that the flu season should not be as prolific as last year’s epidemic, which saw over 12,000 confirmed cases of influenza in the region.
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On average only about 3000 people in the Local Health District present to emergency departments with influenza, although HNEH Director of Health Protection Dr David Durheim expects this year’s vaccine will be much more effective.
“Last year the dominant flu strain, H3N2, didn’t have a very good match with the vaccine,” he said.
“This year the lab in Melbourne are confident that they do have a much better match which is encouraging.
“No vaccine is 100 per cent, and unfortunately these viruses don’t remain stable, the ‘viral drift’ it is like trying to hit a moving target.”
This year the Australian Medical Association is urging residents to hold off on getting flu shots until at least the end of April and into March.
“The vaccines have a maximum protection period of three to four months, and doesn’t really begin until the full onset of Winter,” he said.
Last season the worst few weeks of the flu season, which claimed the lives of 654 Australians was the end of August and the start of September.
The AMA have also released two new vaccines for residents over the age of 65, which will include higher levels of protection and will be longer lasting.
Children aged between six months and five years old will also all be eligible for free vaccinations.
Despite the continued hot weather the Hunter New England has already recorded 190 confirmed cases of influenza this year, outside of the usual season.
“Australians have a very mobile population this year – that is just evidence of how much we travel,” Dr Durheim said.
While it is recommended that all people get the flu shot this year, Dr Durheim particularly urges “the elderly, the young and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders all be vaccinated, as there complication rates are much higher.
