Vaccinations urged ahead of winter school holidays
Parents are being urged to get their children vaccinated before heading off on school holidays. Photo: Getty
With the winter flu season in full swing and COVID-19 surging, parents are being warned to get their children vaccinated ahead of the looming school holidays.
AMA NSW president Michael Bonning said infection rates for both COVID-19 and flu remained high.
Reported flu cases in NSW have more than doubled in the past five weeks, climbing from about 32,000 at the end of April to more than 68,000 cases last week.
“Children under 10 are getting infected at much higher rates than other age groups, and more than 300 children under 16 have been admitted to hospital,” Dr Bonning said on Thursday.
“We can take the pressure off the health system by ensuring as many people as possible get their flu shots, especially older and other vulnerable groups.
“This includes school kids at holiday time when families move around the country to visit extended family, friends, or chase warmer weather.”
The winter school holiday period in NSW for most schools starts on July 3 and anyone planning travel should get vaccinated before leaving home.
Victorian, Queensland and Northern Territory schools break on June 23. School holidays in the ACT and Western Australia start on June 30, while in South Australia and Tasmania it is July 7.
The AMA is also recommending that people wear masks, especially in crowded places such as sporting or concert venues, airports and railway stations, public transport, shopping centres, supermarkets and playgrounds.
– with AAP
