Health authorities are continuing calls for people to get a flu vaccine, with at least 68 confirmed deaths from influenza in Australia this year.
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In Tasmania there have been 858 reported flu cases so far this year - almost double the total for 2018.
However, a Tasmanian Health Service spokesman said there had been no flu deaths in the state this year.
"To date this year PHS has not been advised of any deaths where a laboratory-confirmed flu was a factor," the spokesman said.
Between 10 and 20 per cent of Tasmanians are estimated to catch the flu each year, with 2017 the worst season on record with 3506 reported cases and 21 deaths.
While laboratory confirmed cases of flu are notified to Public Health Services, this represents only a fraction of all cases.
Between January and April 2019 the number of influenza tests being conducted statewide was twice as high as the same period in 2018.
Of these 82 per cent were reported in the state's South, 11 per cent in the North and 6 per cent in the North-West.
Vaccinations
Flu vaccinations are required each year, as flu immunity is short lived and the mix of influenza viruses changes each year.
About 100,000 vaccination doses are provided free to vulnerable Tasmanians under the National Immunisation Program.
Free vaccine is available through General Practitioners for the following people:
- All children aged from six months to under five years (state funded)
- All Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 6 months and over
- Adults aged 65 and over
- Pregnant women at any stage in their pregnancy
- Adults and children aged from 6 months with chronic medical conditions such as heart, lung, liver or kidney diseases, asthma, diabetes, cancer, impaired immunity and neuromuscular conditions
Under the state government's Winder Demand Management Plan, authorised Tasmanian pharmacist immunisers can provide private prescription flu vaccine to healthy people aged 10 years and over in approved pharmacies.
For more information visit FluTas.