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Australia has experienced an unusually early start to the flu season because of a fast-spreading flu variant known as subclade K of Super-K flu.
Last year, Australia had more than 500,000 cases of flu and there have already been more than 24,000 cases this year, well before the peak of the flu season.
Director of Infectious Diseases at the Mater in Brisbane, Professor Paul Griffin, says everyone should get a flu vaccination.
He says this year's flu vaccines provide protection against Super-K.
"We know one of the problems with subclade K or Super-K was that it changed enough so our vaccine perhaps didn't give ideal coverage last year. As we do every year, we've updated that vaccine, we've included different types of flu that should give us the best protection to what we're expecting to see. So, perhaps this year is more important than ever to get your flu vaccine because it has been updated accordingly."
Infectious diseases paediatrician Professor Robert Booy from the University of Sydney has told Channel 9 the Super-K form of the flu is a public health threat because it spreads very easily.
"The influenza K subclade is genetically altered so that it spreads much more easily. It isn't more severe but because you get so many more cases, you see more severe cases simply because of numbers."
1,738 people died in Australia last year after getting the flu, making it the worst flu season on record.
Professor Paul Griffin says the case numbers are higher than they should be because vaccination rates have fallen since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.
"It certainly is a significant part of what we've seen in recent times. I mean last year's flu season was record breaking, over 500,000 cases and more than 1,700 deaths. They're very concerning figures and part of that will be the emergence of subclade K or Super-K but also a big part of that will be under-vaccination. And while we can't control the flu itself, what we can control is the magnitude of disease we see as a result by increasing vaccination as well as by trying to reduce transmission. People who are unwell should stay home, for example, and those who are vulnerable, or really ill, should also tested and get antivirals. If we get that right, not matter what the season brings, we'll see a less severe impact from it."
Last year, 60.5 per cent of those aged 65 or over were vaccinated while 32.3 per cent of people between the ages of 50 and 65 had been immunised.
Vaccines Medical Director of vaccine maker CSL Seqirus, Doctor Jules Bayliss, told Channel 7 it's the over 50s who are the most vulnerable.
"They are at greater risk of disease and they're also at risk of not responding as well to vaccination."
Professor Paul Griffin says misinformation and disinformation about vaccines is partly responsible for the low immunisation figures.
"I think what we're seeing now is it's not just access and logistics, it's probably more people's beliefs that are really driving that vaccination rate to be well below where it should be. But the main advice I would give people is that we want people to ask questions. We want people to be informed but make sure you get your information from good sources. We see a lot of people turn to artificial intelligence or social media where the information you're receiving isn't necessarily reputable. Our GPs and pharmacists do a great job of giving people advice that's customised for them and we'll usually, of course, recommend vaccination because it's the right thing to do. So, make sure you get your information from good sources."
The flu vaccines are available now with April and May regarded as the ideal window to get protection before the worst of the flu season.
