Health authorities call for uptake in flu vaccine as cases record higher than last year

ABC NEWS (Australia)

Health authorities are calling for Queenslanders to get vaccinated amid an early spike in respiratory illnesses. More than 13,600 cases of the flu have been recorded this year, a third higher than at the same time last year

Transcript

00:00It takes just a few seconds.

00:05But authorities say not enough people are stepping forward to get the jab.

00:10Almost 200 people died from the flu in Queensland last year.

00:14Unfortunately 39 of them are in the age range from 30 to 65 years old.

00:19So it's not always the elderly who are dying from flu.

00:22With cases spiking earlier than usual,

00:24doctors say now is the best time to prevent serious illness.

00:28Particularly if you're older, if you have young kids,

00:32or if you have any of those conditions such as diabetes,

00:34if you're immunocompromised, or if you're pregnant.

00:37Pregnant women and parents of young children are also being asked

00:40to consider a new vaccine for respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV.

00:47Serious cases in infants have dropped by almost 70%

00:51since the free vaccine was launched last year.

00:53A peak in respiratory illnesses is months away.

00:56Queensland Health says all residents aged over six months

01:00can get the flu vaccine for free.

01:02It's quick, it's easy, you can get it from your GPs and pharmacies.

01:06Also that we need to get a new vaccine to know in your Answer could be done

01:08if you happen now.

01:10We know there isn't many types of infections that need Wait I'm trying to manage without

01:11word for

01:11affections from undergoing beginnings without having a need for excited

01:14change by adding a new infection to go.

01:16Yes, that's the thing.

01:17We know there's going to be on that bug.

01:18밋arn Simpsych every Math.

01:19There's also going to go out there at a date.

01:20If you're looking back around.

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