The continued rise of flu cases across the State has prompted NSW Health to once again urge parents have their children vaccinated.
Director of Communicable Disease at NSW Health, Dr Vicky Sheppeard, said 115 children have been admitted to Children’s Hospital Westmead with flu this year, two needing critical care.
“With flu cases still on the rise, we’re encouraging everyone, particularly pregnant women and parents of young children, to get their flu shots immediately,” Dr Sheppeard said.
“We are again encouraging parents and carers of children from 6 months up to five years old to take advantage of the free flu vaccine.”
She said the latest weekly Influenza Surveillance Report shows 3,796 flu cases for the week ending 16 June, up from 3,288 notifications the previous week.
“There has been one additional death of a person over 65 years, bringing the annual total to 50 confirmed deaths.”
Dr Sheppeard said 2.37 million doses of Government-funded flu vaccines had already been distributed across NSW.
“There has been strong demand, but there are sufficient supplies of free Government-funded vaccines available for eligible people.”
She said flu shots were free under the National Immunisation Program for pregnant women, people over 65 years of age, Aboriginal people and those with medical conditions such as asthma, diabetes and heart problems.
