WANGARATTA and district residents are being reminded not to forget about their annual COVID vaccinations as flu vaccinations begin to roll out.

The Pharmacy Guild of Australia urged all eligible Australians to get their flu shots early this year with an “alarming” number of flu cases reported across the country.

In the first quarter of 2024 there were 26,836 influenza cases reported nationally by the National Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System.

By February, case numbers were already double the number reported the same time last year.

Bruce Robertson, owner of Robertson’s Pharmacy in Phillipson Street, said influenza vaccinations have started to arrive at the pharmacy, but it wasn’t observing the high number of cases in flu locally as there was nationally.

“We’re still seeing a bit of COVID more so than the flu,” he said.

“From what we’ve seen in our pharmacies there’s no particular trend with flu getting around yet, there’s lots of bugs and bad colds but not the traditional flu symptoms.

“The Federal Health Department think it’s going to be a bad flu year… everyone likes to go for the exception, but most years are what I call normal.”

The flu season typically runs from May to October.

The Federal Health Department characterised the 2023 influenza season by an early peak and longer duration, but overall lower clinical severity and societal impact than many pre-COVID-19 pandemic influenza seasons.

Mr Robertson said it was important those locally who are susceptible to flu-like symptoms to get their flu shots and to not forget about their COVID vaccination.

“We are getting a bit blasé about COVID, but for some people it’s still a nasty thing,” he said.

“It will be a steady uptake of flu shots but there’s no massive demand from the public, people who have a regular flu shot they get around to it and they know when they’ve got to do it.

“People who are susceptible to the flu should absolutely get a vaccine, that advice doesn’t change from year to year.”

According to the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI), people who received an influenza vaccine in late 2023 are still recommended to get the flu vaccine in 2024.

ATAGI also advises that flu vaccines can be given on the same day as other vaccines, such as COVID.

Ask your community pharmacist about your flu vaccine or visit www.findapharmacy.com.au to book an appointment.