Older Aussies urged to get jabbed before end of May

Health experts have called for older Australians to get their flu and Covid-19 boosters before the start of winter amid warnings of a virus 'triple threat.'

Health insurer Bupa is leading the charge, claiming this year's flu season will arrive earlier and harder than expected, potentially leading to more older people being hospitalised.

Bupa's chief medical officer, Dr Tony MacDermott, said Australians should get their flu and Covid vaccinations before the end of May.

"The flu season will be worse than last year," Dr MacDermott said.

"It's building to a perfect storm of Covid and other flu-like illnesses.

"The best protection will always be prevention, and our advice to people who are due for their Covid booster is to get their flu shot together with their Covid booster ahead of the winter season."

Dr MacDermott made the estimations based on modelling from the northern hemisphere's recent flu season.

Last month, health experts warned the healthcare system of the 'triple virus threat' after cases of influenza and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) spiked since the start of 2023.

NSW reported a nearly 43 per cent increase in RSV cases from early March to mid-March.

Last week, over 260 people infected with Covid were admitted to NSW hospitals, with a seven-day rolling average of 38.

Of the 29 people who died following Covid infection, 20 were over 80 years. Nine were aged care residents.

Australia's health minister, Mark Butler, reiterated last week that the pandemic 'was not over' after an uptick in Covid numbers in March.

He urged all Australians over 60 to get oral antiviral Paxlovid treatment to protect themselves this winter.

Older people are also at a higher risk of becoming more severely unwell from the current flu variant circulating this year.

Griffith University infectious diseases Professor Paul van Buynder said subvariant H3N2 nearly always led to a longer flu season and more severe illness among high-risk groups.

"If we combine Covid with the H3N3 variant, we're likely going to see a dramatic mark on all Australians," Professor Van Buynder said.

Dr MacDermott said Australians getting the flu and Covid vaccination helped protect themselves and reduce pressure on the health system.

"Australia's hospitals remain under strain," Dr MacDermott said.

Recent research showed that flu vaccination among adults reduced the risk of being admitted to an intensive care unit with flu by 37 per cent.

The flu jab also reduced the risk of ICU admissions due to the most severe forms of flu by 82 per cent.

"With Australians effectively back to normal lifestyles, we expect to see more Covid and flu cases this year," Dr MacDermott said.

"Each virus is different, affecting individuals in different ways, so getting both shots is essential – they're perfectly safe to receive on the same day."

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