The flu season like the one upon us hasn’t been experienced in years.
We’re currently seeing cases doubling week on week, an uptick exacerbated by the ongoing Covid pandemic.
That’s why the Palaszczuk Government has taken an unprecedented step to protect Queenslanders from influenza A.
We’re investing $40 million in a flu vaccine rollout, covering the costs for Queenslanders.
You can now get your flu jab for free at your local GP or pharmacy.
Free flu vaccinations are available until the end of June for everyone aged six months and over.
As we’ve seen in our fight against COVID-19, vaccination is our best defence against a virus.
That’s why I’m calling on every Logan resident to take advantage of this health initiative.
Vaccination against the flu is especially important for our elderly and young.
Research shows us influenza A is a virus that predominantly goes after these two groups.
Unfortunately, as it stands right now, our vaccine rates and immunity levels are low, making us all vulnerable.
And case numbers are spiking rapidly, and earlier than usual.
To put this into perspective, Queensland’s flu season normally doesn’t begin until late July.
However this year, by the first week of June, our statewide case numbers are approaching 10,000.
And a lot of these people simply won’t be able to shake it off at home. They’ll end up in our hospitals, in intensive care, putting further pressure on Queensland’s health system.
By offering free flu shots in the early stage of this outbreak, we hope to reduce the adverse impacts to our people and state.
So what symptoms should you be looking for? Same as COVID, really: fever, sore throat, dry cough, headache, muscle pain and tiredness.
In more extreme cases, people may also feel confused or have shortness of breath.
But please, I urge you not to wait until it is too late. If you’re yet to get vaccinated against the flu this season, please contact your local GP or pharmacy and book your free shot today.
I got my jab recently at Chempro Logan Central Plaza, and if you’re local to the shopping centre I can highly recommend the services of pharmacist Ash Patel and his team.
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