Best time to get flu shot – hospitals prepare to kill over 4,000 flu victims

Australians are invited to take advantage of free flu shots before the horrific season because of the virus that is expected to kill more than 4,000 people this winter.

Health Minister Greg Hunt announced on Sunday a national distribution of the flu vaccine, available free to eligible people through the nationally funded National Immunization Program (NIP).

More than six million influenza vaccines will be free for Australians over 65, indigenous people, pregnant women and people at increased risk of contracting the virus.

Experts say the best time to get the vaccine is late April, with the vaccine dissipating after three or four months and taking a few weeks to boost immunity.

Mr Hunt said it was important that Australians be vaccinated every year because the virus is changing year by year.

"Clinical experts have indicated that optimal protection against the flu would occur within three to four months of vaccination," he said.

"Getting vaccinated from mid-April provides protection during the peak period of influenza transmission, from June to around September in most parts of Australia."

Influenza vaccines are part of the Australian government's efforts to reduce the spread of influenza that has devastated communities in recent years.

More than 10,000 people contracted the flu in March 2019, 6,827 more than last year, according to official data released by the Immunization Coalition.

In 2017, 1255 people died from the virus, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, said Dr. Harry Nespolen, president of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners.

& # 39; Because 2017 was a terrible flu season, in 2018 everyone was scared and rushed to get the flu shot. We had a relatively lenient season [less than 100 deaths were reported]he told the Daily Telegraph.

But as 2018 was "lenient", many people did not get enough immunity in the community, which means that this year's flu season should be particularly severe, said Professor Robert Booy, President of the Immunization Coalition.

"Last year was so quiet that we did not put up enough immunity in the community, which means we have never managed to" protect the flock " , he told Daily Mail Australia.

"It means that many more people will be prone to the flu this year.

"This year, we predict that the flu will kill at least 4,000 people, the same number as the combined suicide deaths and road toll."

Pregnant women can receive their free vaccine in 2019 at any stage of their pregnancy to protect themselves and their unborn baby.

An improved vaccine will be available again for people aged 65 and over, as 75% of influenza-related deaths in 2018 occurred in this age group, according to government figures.

The PIN provides free vaccines to eligible people against 17 vaccine-preventable diseases, including influenza, hepatitis B, whooping cough, measles, and the recent addition of the ACWY vaccine against meningococcal disease in adolescents.

The vaccination rate for five-year-old Australians is 94.67%, which is close to the 95% herd immunity rate, Hunt said.

The Minister of Health has encouraged people over six months to be vaccinated for the 2019 influenza season.

A record 11 million Australians have been vaccinated against the flu in 2018.