PEOPLE are being reminded to book in their annual flu vaccination ahead of the winter peak season, with free flu vaccines now available for children under five years old and other at-risk groups.
Chief health officer Dr Tarun Weeramanthri encouraged more Victorians to get their annual flu vaccine, with reported cases of flu and other respiratory viruses already on the rise.
Dr Weeramanthri said babies and toddlers need special protection from the flu, as they are more likely to become severely ill and need treatment in hospital.
“For vulnerable groups in the community, the flu can be deadly and for others it can result in severe health effects and long recovery,” he said.
“It’s important to stay up to date with your vaccines – the influenza virus changes throughout the year.”
Flu vaccination is recommended for anyone six months and older and is free for at-risk groups, including children aged six months to five years, people over 65 years, pregnant women, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, and people with medical conditions.
People can get their vaccine at general practices, pharmacies, local council immunisation clinics, Aboriginal health services and often at their workplace.
There have been more than 11,000 notified influenza cases in Victoria this year – twice as many as for the same time last year.
