As influenza cases rise, COVID remains a danger
Experts recommend checking your vaccination status as the cold weather sets in.
Winter has well and truly begun across Australia – and with it has come seasonal warnings about the flu.
At the same time, news reports indicate that we need to remain vigilant about the dangers of COVID-19, which has had a resurgence in recent weeks.
Last week, the ABC’s Dr Norman Swan noted that a surge in COVID deaths – which have risen to 10 a day in New South Wales – and said the uptick in infections was “not seasonal, it's around the world”.
The Queensland Government revealed that COVID admissions were up 10%, and Mater Hospital infectious diseases expert Paul Griffin raised concern that both the coronavirus and flu viruses were circulating in the community.
“This is the first time we've really had both viruses co-circulating at such significant levels,” Dr Griffin told the ABC.
“Lots of hospitals are grappling with high patient numbers and lots of staff absences, such that the impact is so significant that they want to do something to reduce that.”
One way to lessen the impact of infectious diseases such as the flu and COVID is to be fully vaccinated.
Seniors have long known the benefit of the flu jab, which is tweaked annually to tackle the most common variants. Now, experts recommend that we update our protection against COVID.
The Department of Health and Aged Care advises, “If you are 65 years or over, we strongly recommend you get a 2023 COVID-19 booster vaccine.
“You can have a 2023 booster if it has been six months or more since your last COVID-19 infection or vaccine. It is still safe to get a booster even if you are unsure if you have had COVID-19 in the last six months.
“A COVID-19 booster will give you more immunity as we head into winter and is the best way to protect you from severe illness, hospitalisation and death from COVID-19.”
The COVID vaccination is voluntary but strongly encouraged for residents in aged care homes and all people over 65.
The department encourages the bivalent vaccine, where it is available, as it offers additional protection against the original COVID-19 virus and the Omicron variant.
It also advises that it is safe to get a COVID-19 vaccination at the same time as an influenza vaccination, noting that this can be an effective way to make sure you are protected this winter.
The National Immunisation Program recommends flu shots for all adults over 65, plus vaccinations for pneumococcal disease for those over 70, and for shingles for those aged 70-79.
Indigenous people are advised to have their pneumococcal vaccine at 50.
