SA Health\u2019s Dr Louise Flood told FIVEAA on Tuesday:<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is a lot worse than we\u2019ve had since we\u2019ve been recording flu numbers.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s why we really have come out with a message really trying to encourage people to get vaccinated. We\u2019re trying to encourage people to use infection control: that\u2019s stay home if you\u2019re sick, cover your coughs and sneezes, wash your hands, wash your surfaces to minimise the risk of other people getting sick.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n
There have been 15,500 confirmed flu cases in SA this year, compared to 1,4000 last year, and 35 deaths.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo one really can tell you why this year has started so much earlier than we\u2019ve had in the past,\u201d Dr Flood said. \u201cThings that effect how a flu season might be is what strains are in circulation, how immune the population is to what\u2019s circulating, as well as how good the vaccine matches to what is circulating. Really no one can tell you exactly why this year has been so much worse.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe won\u2019t be able to tell until later in the year how well the vaccine matched to what was circulating.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n
Dr Flood also explained the difference between getting a flu shot at a pharmacy compared to the GP:<\/p>\n
\u201cPharmacies can only deliver vaccines for people 16 years and older. And they can\u2019t provide the funded vaccine but they basically have the same types of vaccines available.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf you go to a pharmacy you will have to pay even if you\u2019re in one of those funded groups. The groups that are funded are older people, Aboriginal people, pregnant women and people with certain medical condition. And we have a state-funded program for children less than five.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n
LISTEN:<\/p>\n\n
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