Young children, pregnant women, people with a long-term medical condition and anyone aged 65 or over are most at risk of contracting the virus. Anyone who wants to be protected is asked to get vaccinated while stocks are still available.
Dr Ivan Muscat, consultant in communicable disease control, said the festive season and the subsequent return to school was generally associated with the introduction of flu.
He said: ‘We cannot accurately predict whether we are going to be hit hard with flu or not this winter but the higher than usual seasonal activity in Australia and the southern hemisphere suggests that we may well see more influenza than in recent years, further strengthening the argument for vaccination.
‘Vaccination remains our best protection against flu and while there are still vaccine doses available, anyone wanting to be protected should act now and visit their doctor or local pharmacy before flu arrives.’
According to the Health Department, 2,000 more primary school children – up to 4,500 – were vaccinated against flu in November compared to the same time last year. GPs also visited 46 nurseries, providing a nasal spray-based vaccine to 900 children. Both age groups receive the vaccination for free.
