Parents of children born during the COVID-19 pandemic are being urged to get their children flu shots, with almost 5,000 cases in children aged zero to four so far this year.
Children aged zero to four have reported the highest number of influenza cases so far this year, according to national data.
Last year, those under the age of 14 had the highest influenza notification rate in the country and a "low" vaccination uptake, according to the Department of Health and Aged Care. "Influenza is a nasty disease in children, we've always recognised that and that's why we've got a free vaccine, but we've also got a population that hasn't seen the flu before so, they don't have any natural protection."Dr Pearce said the flu season still peaked in winter, but the season was becoming longer, in part due to international travel.
"They’re not exposed to that time in daycare where there’s more infections going around and their immune system can build up quicker," she said. "So, that's the big difference the really high fevers and joint pain and they don't understand why it just hurts." "Our vaccination rates are low compared to last year and the incidence of flu is the same or more and we've just come off a season when we've had flu as a less of a peak, but a longer season," he said.
Influenza B Influenza Flu Vaccination
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