WITH influenza on the rise across New South Wales over winter and low vaccination rates compared to other states, GPs are calling on patients to get vaccinated.

There has been a jump of more than 78% in the number of cases, up from 21,257 in June to 37,895 in July, according to the latest data.

The Royal Australian College of GPs (RACGP) isurging patients to protect themselves and others to minimise the risks of further increases and hospitalisations in Aug, noting that vaccination rates are lower than in previous years.

Last year, NSW accounted for more than a third of flu-related deaths across Australia, 267 of the 783 total.

“I’ve diagnosed more influenza A and B cases in the last few weeks than I have over the rest of the flu season,” said RACGP NSW&ACT Chair, Dr Rebekah Hoffman.

“And frankly, patients haven’t been getting their flu jabs at the same rate as other years – they can certainly help themselves when it comes to the flu vaccine,” she continued, noting that it is “definitely not too late” in the season to get one.

“The percentage of people aged 15 and over vaccinated in NSW is below the national average, and there is also a shortage of people aged over 65 getting their jabs,” Dr Hoffman warned.

Flu vaccines should be free in NSW, she added, reiterating her call for free MenB vaccination (PD 30 Jan).

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