The Pharmacy Guild has launched its new flu campaign following the worst March quarter in flu cases on record, and the season hasn’t even begun.
Cases from January 1 to March 25 surged to 26,836 according to the National Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System (NNDSS).
That’s around ten thousand more than for the same time last year.
Pharmacy Guild National President Professor Trent Twomey says Australians should get ahead of the flu season and get vaccinated now.
“The flu season typically runs from May to October,” Professor Twomey said.
“However, flu vaccines for the 2024 season are available now in community pharmacies across Australia.
“Community pharmacies stand ready to administer vaccines around the country and in Queensland, the state government is providing the flu vaccine to all residents aged 6 months and over for free until September 30.
“While in Western Australia the state government has announced free flu vaccinations to all West Australians aged six months and over during the months of May and June,” he said.
Meanwhile, a new cell-based flu vaccine has been made available for at-risk Australians.
The vaccine called Flucelvax QUAD is described as an innovation because of its ability to match more current strains of the flu.
Flucelvax QUAD is now available for free via the National Immunisation Program (NIP) to eligible Australians at higher risk of complications from flu.
