Thousands of West Moreton Health staff have rolled up their sleeve to join the fight against the flu. 

Mobile immunisation teams have visited all West Moreton Health facilities in the past five weeks, providing more than 3,000 free influenza vaccinations since 2 April 2024.

May is the traditional beginning of flu season, so the immunisation team will continue the staff vaccination program to help protect against the virus and break the chain of transmission.

West Moreton Health Executive Director Clinical Services Joanne Johnson said staff were overwhelmingly in favour of the annual flu vaccination to protect themselves, their loved ones and the community. 

“We see a lot of very sick people in our emergency departments over winter, suffering badly from flu and other respiratory illnesses, and the extra demand puts a lot of strain on our staff,” she said.

“That’s why our staff jump at the chance to be vaccinated and why we’d like our community to do the same.”

More than 500 confirmed cases of influenza have been reported in West Moreton this year, and many more will have gone unreported. The official case load is more than double the rate typically reported by late April.

This high rate suggests a significant flu season is ahead. Flu season typically begins in May, peaks in August and ends in October. Winter is also the peak season for other respiratory illnesses, such as COVID and RSV (Respiratory Syncytial Virus).

More than 1,100 confirmed cases of RSV have been reported in West Moreton so far this year, and more than 1,600 cases of COVID-19.

Residents are encouraged to get their free flu vaccination, stay at home when sick, wash their hands often and practice good hygiene. 

Background

Free flu vaccinations are now available to all Queenslanders aged six months and over and is available from GPs and pharmacies until 30 September 2024. You can even have the flu vaccine at the same time as your COVID-19 booster dose.

Flu is more than an annual nuisance. It can cause very serious illness in otherwise healthy people. For young children, the elderly and people burdened with other illnesses, flu can lead to hospitalisation and even death. 

For information on the flu, visit the Queensland Government website Vaccination Matters: https://www.vaccinate.initiatives.qld.gov.au/what-to-vaccinate-against/influenza

Photo caption: Katelyn Verrall (left) gets ready for her flu jab delivered by Infection Prevention Clinical Nurse Georgia Naden (right)