With the leaves changing colours and the air getting cooler, Australians are also seeing signs of a challenging flu season ahead.

Health officials in New South Wales are sounding the alarm, urging residents to take action and get vaccinated as influenza cases are on the rise, with predictions of a particularly severe season looming.

The latest respiratory surveillance report revealed that over 4,700 individuals were diagnosed with the flu in the past month alone—a 16 per cent increase from the same period last year.

Hospital admissions for influenza-like illnesses have surged, with 480 admissions recorded between January 6 and April 2024, nearly doubling the 284 admissions during the same timeframe in 2023.

NSW health officials urged residents to get vaccinated against influenza. Image source: Unsplash

Experts predicted that the upcoming flu season could rival or even surpass the severity of the previous year.

It's estimated that one in three Australians could fall prey to a cold or influenza, a statistic that underscores the importance of preventative measures.

Chief Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant highlighted the alarming trend of more young children facing life-threatening complications from the flu, with an increase in admissions to intensive care units in 2023.

To avert a similar crisis in 2024, Dr Chant is calling on families to prioritise getting their flu shots before the season hits its peak.

‘It is a very quick and easy process to book in with your local doctor or pharmacist who can also administer your Covid-19 vaccine at the same time if recommended,’ he said.

'This simple act can help you and your family stay healthy this winter,' he added.

The call to action is especially urgent for those at higher risk of severe illness, including children aged six months to five years, individuals aged 65 and over, Aboriginal people from six months of age, pregnant women, and those with serious health conditions.

These groups are eligible for a free flu vaccine, available at local GP clinics or pharmacies.

Tip

For more information on the flu vaccine, visit the Department of Health website or call the National Immunisation Hotline at 1800 022 222.

In a concerted effort to bolster community health, NSW Health is also encouraging residents to consider receiving a COVID-19 booster alongside their flu vaccination.

NSW Premier Chris Minns warned that influenza is not only highly contagious but can be life-threatening, particularly for vulnerable populations.

‘Getting the flu jab is the best way to protect yourself and the wider community,’ he said.

Health Minister Ryan Park observed an uptick in virus activity across the country and is advocating for vaccination as a means of self-protection and community responsibility.

The impact of influenza was felt by at least 300,000 Australians in 2023, as the illness spread more freely in the post-COVID-19 pandemic environment.

The nation's cold and flu capitals have been identified, with Newcastle, Liverpool, and Blacktown in NSW topping the list.

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Other areas across Australia, including Southport in Queensland, Hillarys in Western Australia, and Warrnambool in Victoria, are also forecasted to experience high levels of cold and flu symptoms.

Source: 7NEWS Australia/YouTube​

Key Takeaways

• NSW residents are being urged to get vaccinated as cases of influenza spike, with over 4,700 people diagnosed in the past four weeks.
• Health authorities are particularly concerned about vulnerable groups like young children, older adults, and those with serious health conditions.
• NSW Health is encouraging residents to get a flu vaccine before the season peaks and to consider a Covid booster at the same time.
• NSW experienced an increase in influenza hospital admissions, and the upcoming flu season could be as bad as or worse than the previous year. Health officials are urging vaccination as the best protection.

Feel free to share your insights and strategies for staying healthy during flu season in the comments section below. Have you received your flu shot? What steps are you taking to prepare for the colder months?

 

[Trudylee]

As an RN1 the only thing One needs is their own Immunity to do its God given Job of fighting Pathogens, the more Vaccines the more One comprimises their Health as We have seen with the Millions dying around the World and suffering from these dangerous Gene Therapy Covd Injections, there is no Scientific evidence these Vaccines Work ,except to make Money from Criminals

 

[Clancieblue]

Polio has NOT been eradicated and is on this rise again.
TB is highly prevalent, especially in NT, thought to come in from Asia. Australia no longer quarantines visitors from overseas countries.

It is highly advised that when you turn 50, you get the combined DIPTHERIA and TETANUS booster shot.
Diphtheria has NOT been eradicated.

Measles is again in the rise through
Parents not getting their children vaccinated.

HIV AIDS, Gonorrhoea and VD (!) are already back in high numbers again, w NSW being highest prevalence of VD and AIDS.
It seems ppl have NOT learned anything from the horrendous AIDS epidemic not so long ago!
When was the last time anyone saw adverts for condoms?
How quickly they forget

To assume these diseases have been eradicated is uninformed and plain dangerously wrong.

Eradicated was a wrong choice of wording. not as prevalent, is what I should have said.
Thanks for making that point, don't want anyone to think they don't need vaccinations.

 

[Da Freddo]

Sounds like the ANTI VAXXERS ARE AT IT AGAIN.
Do the world a favour and GO PEDDLE YOUR INANE THOUGHTS ON ANOTHER PLANET, ANYWHERE EXCEPT THIS ONE!!!!!!!!!

 

[denise.cain]

I have my flue for seniors and my co vid up to date but last yr. I was ill and Dr said my gle and covid test were negative. I tried twice more and was given cortisone and puffers I got worse tried to get appointment with.any Dr in practice I was given 4 days later at 5.30 on a dark winter rain in the car park was given script for bronchitis the pharmacy was closed and I was told to go to castlehill chemist ware house for after hrs when I crossed into castlehill rd I went through a red light lots of hooting and swearing I turned into next rd and phoned my daughter told her I was to sick to drive they came to fetch me and take me home my husband had a meeting he is not allowed to drive so I was.off to Westmead after a long wait my daughter to them I was turning blue. I was put into a private room next to reception and it was everybody racing around x rays monitors drips x 2 with different antibiotics 5 hrs later a bed was found in B5. Respiritory high care. Bloods came back positive for R.S.VirusI teach children with. special needs to swim and the kids were sick. I have been trying to get inoculated since then and I saw they have now got an adult one
I am autoimune compromised and a pensioner I was told to pay 300dollars no deductions on Medicare is it possible to get it direct or at the hosp pharm Westmead. I am 80 years old.I am sure that if it happens again I will be in a box

 

[denise.cain]

Sounds like the ANTI VAXXERS ARE AT IT AGAIN.
Do the world a favour and GO PEDDLE YOUR INANE THOUGHTS ON ANOTHER PLANET, ANYWHERE EXCEPT THIS ONE!!!!!!!!!

I need the R.S.Virus for adults and was told.300 dollars I am autoimune compromised and 80 yrs old pensioner.

 

[JM.]

Sounds like more Government "fear porn" to me! Why aren't they advising the population to take care of ourselves by eating as much fresh and unprocessed food as possible, exercise regularly, manage our stress and take extra Vitamin C? I guess that that information does not make money for the pharmaceutical industry!

Also, why do politicians/public servants state, "It's free" about so many services? Who is giving it away? No one! Taxpayers are paying for it so it's really NOT free.

Take care of yourselves, think critically and look after your immune systems!

 

[Littleboy8]

I need the R.S.Virus for adults and was told.300 dollars I am autoimune compromised and 80 yrs old pensioner.

Doesn’t your doc bulk bill mine does costs me nothing.

 

[JimmyFlatrock]

Sounds like more Government "fear porn" to me! Why aren't they advising the population to take care of ourselves by eating as much fresh and unprocessed food as possible, exercise regularly, manage our stress and take extra Vitamin C? I guess that that information does not make money for the pharmaceutical industry!

Also, why do politicians/public servants state, "It's free" about so many services? Who is giving it away? No one! Taxpayers are paying for it so it's really NOT free.

Take care of yourselves, think critically and look after your immune systems!

100% agree with JM about..... eating as much fresh and unprocessed food as possible, exercise regularly, manage our stress and take extra Vitamin C?...

From what I'm finding there appears to be a lot going for eating a good nutritionally balanced diet of basic wholesome foods and getting away from the ultra processed foods of the convenience world. This is especially important as we age.

 

[Mina vriesekolk]

As a health professional it was mandatory To have the flu shot every year .You get the strain , who is most around .
I have not had the flu since I was a young adult . I had my 6 th Covid A few weeks ago. I have NEVER had Covid and no side effects of the vaccine.

 

[Da Freddo]

here we go again.... the covid bullshit this time renamed the "FLU" go get the jab, well I wont be doing that shit this time either... ONLY when all the health ministers and all the politicians get the "REAL JABS" then I might think about it.

Another who knows more than the establishment does
Gees hope you get the "shit you won't be doing".
Then all we have to put up with, is your moaning about how "misinformed this was"..
Tipsy, no I don't think so, "PLASTERED" yes I'd say!!

 

[MaccaMan]

The data base you talk of is useless, self reporting, anyone can report, no follow up, no checking if the event is true. There's people on there with broken legs due to the vaccine, absolute BS. All it means if on the list is you have been vaccinated AND you have had a health issue, it does not mean the vaccine caused the issue.

People have always died suddenly, it's not something new. My friend decades ago , when he was 22, died from a second heart attach in two weeks. Very fit person, never smoked, didn't drink or do drugs, was an avid cyclist, had a heart attack, out into hospital, two weeks later another heart attack and died. If that happened today it would be blamed on the vaccine no doubt.

AS I said elsewhere on here I have a couple of GP friends, good friends, one one with 50 years experience and two medical clinics with 20 odd doctors, very successful and are not seeing all these so called deaths from the vaccine or injuries. He deals with the local hospitals a lot too, no massive death numbers, it's all crap put out by antivaxes, often using the government site listing deaths/injuries that "Maybe" attributed to the vaccine.

Yes it's sad your friend died, but her parents saying they are convinced her death was directly related to the jabs is not very scientific is it.

I know a lot of people, they know other people, no one knows of any deaths, funny how some people know of heaps, while others know of none. Hence I go with doctors who see a lot of people, hear what's happening, know the true story as they are on the front line and they have not heard or seen all these deaths. Even funeral homes are not experiencing increased death numbers. Look at the death notices, people are dying and funerals are happening a few days later. If there were all these deaths there would be more delays

Seeing as you have good friends who are GP's, maybe you could ask them to produce the 'gag' orders provided to them from AHPRA... I have a copy. I also have a copy of the orders provided to nurses to, 'dob in your workmate' if you hear your workmate advising clients to 'not get the jab' or advising against the jab due to myo or pericarditis, and more.
I chose not to get COVID-19 vaccinated. Not because I don't believe in vaccinations - I was vaccinated as a child. For the first time in my adult life, I decided to do some in-depth research into mRNA, and it's creator, Doctor Robert Malone. Also visited sites of Dr Peter McCullough, Robert Kennedy Junior, Bill Gates, and Dr Anthony Faucci. I have been down BOTH sides of the fence and I find the evidence overwhelming against the COVID-19 vaccine.
The sealer for me was when I went for a check-up with a nurse who thought I was there to receive a COVID-19 vaccination to which I responded, 'no, I'm not vaccinated for COVID-19.' The nurse burst into tears. She herself was coerced into taking the vaccine in order to keep her job. After her second jab, she spent 4 months in hospital being spoon fed by her husband whilst their 3 children watched on... Upon her return to work, she saw hundreds and hundreds of young men aged between 14-26 presenting with heart conditions which she attributed directly to the vaccine. I went on and asked her about young jabbed women and pregnancy as I had read miscarriages had sky-rocketed. She confirmed this to be true. I had also read that auto-immune had increased by up to 30%, which she also confirmed. She then went on to say, '...if they knew I was talking to you about this, I would lose my job...' Right from the horses mouth. I needed no further confirmation. Conspiracy theories were now all true...

 

[natalielocket]

Most of the problems with these Flu epidemic is that so many people do not eat enough of fresh and healthy foods. I have had to have the flu shot while working in Age Care, also Covid shots. But during the Covid crisis, I only got that shot, not the flu. As I eat plenty of fruit and veges, take a few Vitamins, no prescribed medication, but in my 75th year, hardly ever have had the flu. The one time I did get it, I was lazy, and not enough of the right foods. Not takeaways, and also very busy with my job. Also I don`t drink soft drinks, whether the normal sugar or the sugar free, (which is so full of chemicals) have lots of water, coffee, tea, wine and cider or the ginger beer. Exercise and enjoy life.

 

[natalielocket]

As a Health Professional there has never been a Scientific Report that definitively shows these Vaccines make One iota of difference to being exposed to a Pathogen ,seeing the Global harm from the experimental Gene Therapy Covd Bioweapon, it should be banned as Prof Dalgeish stated ,there has never been a Virus isolated outside of the body either ,One needs to have good hygeine, get out into the Sunshine for Vit D, and fresh Air ,Eat Healthy Foods Exercise daily and Sleep well take the following Oregano Oil, Garlic, Honey ,White Pine Needle Tea, ,Nattokinase, Bromelain, Curcurcum, etc if the Sniffles start

Definitely, hand hygeine , which I forgot to mention before. When working in the community (Age Care), I would often have to pop into the local shopping centre to use the amenities, and while washing my hands, so many women walked out with just a quick splash under the taps or nothing. Then probably going to the supermarket to touch food, etc.

 

[Prowsey]

No one ever said that the Covid vaccine was 100% permanently effective. However, it probably helped you not to get permanent lung damage. As for antibiotics, perhaps we should abolish them because a very common prescription antibiotic nearly killed me a few months ago. That's life.

Pull your head outa your arse !

 

[Prowsey]

I have had the flu vaccine every year for over 20yrs .This is a requirement of working in aged care.
I have never had any reaction, nor have I had the flu. Please don't try to scare people vaccines save lives and heartache. All my children and family are vaccinated all the staff who work in aged care facilities and many others. Also, I have had 6 covid injections, no side effects.

Halfwit!!!

 

[Prowsey]

Stop with the fearmongering , like the media do, it’s a flu, immunity will get you through

 

[Littleboy8]

Halfwit!!!

how to not make friends and alienate people on here. Your a real charmer aren’t you.not.

 

[Clancieblue]

Do not believe a thing a fkn politician tells you, most are lying corrupt pricks

Are you on drugs or drunk,what's with the language , HALFWITS need this to express themselves.

 

[Littleboy8]

Are you on drugs or drunk,what's with the language , HALFWITS need this to express themselves.

What sewer did this prick crawl out of what an arsewipe
Boo hiss to you your parents must be so proud

 

[JimmyFlatrock]

What sewer did this prick crawl out of what an arsewipe
Boo hiss to you your parents must be so proud

New member, 5 posts, all on here.
Hallmarks of a troll, having what it calls fun, messing with people.
Not the slightest appearance of wishing to engage other than to push hate into others so they react and it can see that reaction. Best to ignore the sad thing. No responses is best, it's what it craves.
Provocation is ok, when used in the context of a decent, even hot discussion, provided it's backed up with some basic intellect.
It will probably come back in another guise at some stage. Or straight away as the same....