Australians urged to get flu vaccine amid coronavirus spread

Corona virus

A pharmacist reaches for medicine at a shop in Coburg, Melbourne Source: AAP

As the coronavirus continues to spread across the country, Australians are being urged to get their flu vaccinations ahead of winter. Doctors say it's more important than ever to build up herd immunity in order to help protect vulnerable people and lessen the burden on the healthcare system.


Supplies of the 2020 flu vaccine have arrived in chemists across Australia. Pharmacist Danielle Cummings works at Terry White Chemmart in Melbourne. She says with the coronavirus causing heightened health concerns among the Australian public, staff are expecting unprecedented demand.

More than 313,000 Australians were infected with the flu last year, and 900 people died. The Department of Health has secured what it's described as "the largest ever supply" of a seasonal flu vaccine. The Department recommends everyone aged six months and over gets immunised. But health researchers say less than half of all Australians follow that advice.


Share

Follow SBS Assyrian

Download our apps

Listen to our podcasts

Get the latest with our exclusive in-language podcasts on your favourite podcast apps.

Watch on SBS

SBS World News

Take a global view with Australia's most comprehensive world news service

Watch now