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This flu season is shaping up to be “as severe a season as ever” as health officials worry school holidays will be the tipping point for millions of Aussies. New data has found 17,431 people in NSW were infected with influenza in the week ending July 6, compared with 16,777 in the week ending June 29. NSW Health executive director of health protection Jeremy McAnulty said influenza activity was at high levels across the community but especially among children under 16 years.

“We’re really urging those people to get vaccinated,” he said. “In previous years, we’ve seen small children die of influenza and often end up in the ICU, and people with underlying medical conditions end up in hospital and end up dying too. “It is a very serious disease for those people.



“And people kind of think it’s inevitable. You know, you always grew up hearing about the flu and hearing ‘Oh, he’s going to get the flu this year’. “But in fact, we know the vaccine is a very effective way of preventing it, but just not enough people are getting it.

” Dr McAnulty said fewer than 60 per cent of people aged over 65 – one of the big risk groups for the flu – had had their flu shot so far. “Those are among the most vulnerable people for getting the flu, for dying and ending up in hospital,” Dr McAnulty said. He urged people to get the flu vaccine this year even if they’ve had the flu or vaccinations in previous years, as vaccines are tailored to different strains of th.

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