DOUBLE VACCINE CALL AFTER FLU SPIKE

Rethink after cases soar

PATIENTS could be encouraged to get two flu vaccines instead of just one after North Queensland recorded a huge spike in the number of cases last year.

The Townsville Hospital and Health Service confirmed 2865 cases of influenza between January 1 and December 17 last year, according to its notifiable conditions reports.

That’s more than 1300 cases up on 2016 when 1528 patients were struck down. In 2013, just 358 people had flu cases confirmed.

Fairfield Central Medical Practice principal Dr Michael Clements said the number of flu cases through his doors was the worst he had seen for 11 years.

“It’s the busiest I’ve seen it and I was even practising during the swine flu epidemic,” he said.

“Last year the flu was really hitting everybody of all ages and even those who had previously had the flu vaccine were getting sick.”

Dr Clements said practitioners were working on recommendations to try to ensure this year was not as bad, which could include patients receiving two vaccines instead of one.

“There have been reports last year’s vaccine was not as effective as previous ones,” he said.

“But the flu vaccine really does save lives because it stops the spread and last year could have been a lot worse without the vaccine.

“I’ll be closely watching the recommendations for this year, which could be getting a second shot.”

The local spike is a reflection of the statewide trend, which saw more than 55,000 cases of flu confirmed in Queensland last year – more than three times higher than the five- year average.

Health and Ambulance Services Minister Steven Miles yesterday confirmed the flu surge had a huge impact on emergency department performance.

“There are some records you just never want to see broken,” Mr Miles said.

“Paramedics and our emergency department clinicians worked tirelessly last year to make sure critically ill people were seen on time.

“But the surge in flu patients did make things more difficult.”

Mr Miles said Queensland Health was tackling the flu wave head- on – with free vaccinations for children under five.

“Up to 300,000 kids are eligible for this potentially lifesaving vaccine and we will do our best to see that as many as possible are offered it,” he said.

“We urge people of all ages to get vaccinated, however younger children are particularly susceptible, as we saw last year when more than 580 kids under five years old were hospitalised due to flu.

“This free vaccine will be made available through GPs and other childhood immunisation providers.”