Victorians are being urged to book in their annual flu vaccination ahead of winter peak season, with free flu vaccines now available for children under five years old and other at-risk groups.
Victorian chief health officer Dr Tarun Weeramanthri is encouraging more Victorians to get their annual flu vaccine, with reported cases of flu and other respiratory viruses already on the rise.
Dr Weeramanthri said that babies and toddlers need special protection from the flu, as they are more likely to get severe illness and need treatment in hospital.
“The flu can be serious, especially for children which is why the vaccine is free for children under five,” Dr Weeramanthri said.
“For vulnerable groups in the community the flu can be deadly and for others it can result in severe health effects and long recovery periods,” he said.
“It’s critically important to stay up to date with your vaccines – the influenza virus changes throughout the year and that’s why new vaccines are developed for each season. Vaccination is the best thing you can do to protect yourself, your family, friends and people at most risk in the community.”
Flu vaccination is recommended for anyone six months and older and is free for at risk groups including children aged six months to five years, people over 65 years, pregnant women, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, and people with medical conditions that put them at increased risk of severe flu.
People can get their vaccine at general practices, pharmacies, local council immunisation clinics, Aboriginal Health Services and often at their workplace.
There have been more than 11,000 notified influenza cases in Victoria this year already, which is almost twice as many as for the same time last year.
It remains early in this year’s flu season and numbers are expected to rise more steeply in the winter months.
Dr Weeramanthri highlighted that the flu is highly contagious and while it most often causes mild to moderate illness with symptoms such as fever and cough, severe illness can develop. Babies, children, older people, and people with underlying medical conditions were amongst the most vulnerable.
“Having an annual flu vaccine will not only reduce your chances of catching the flu but also reduce the severity of your illness if you become infected,” Dr Weeramanthri said.
Flu vaccines can be given at the same time as other National Immunisation Program vaccines, such as the new free maternal RSV vaccine and the Covid vaccine.
In addition to vaccination, simple steps can help stop the spread of respiratory illnesses such as washing hands, coughing or sneezing into your elbow, wearing a mask, and staying home when sick.
More information on flu vaccination is available on the Better Health Channel website.
