In the past five years, more than 500 Far Northerners have been hospitalised with influenza with this year’s season just around the corner.

Flu season typically peaks between July and August with Director of Tropical Public Health Services (Cairns) Dr Richard Gair urging people to get vaccinated.

“It is really important that all people from young children, to working couples to grandparents get vaccinated now if they haven’t already done so,” Dr Gair said.

“Flu seasons are notoriously difficult to predict and certainly in the Far North we have seen fairly large fluctuations in hospitalisations over the past five years.”

In 2009-10, 260 people were hospitalised within the Cairns and Hinterland Hospital and Health Service’s catchment area in one of the worst influenza seasons in the past decade.

In 2010-11 and 2011-12, 54 and 32 people respectively were hospitalised with influenza while in 2012-13 numbers again spiked with 115 hospitalisations.

“Last year, 66 people from across the Far North were hospitalised with the contagious disease, which can, in some cases, be fatal,” Dr Gair said.

Dr Gair said vaccines are provided for free for those most at risk of hospitalisation if contracting influenza:

• People with medical conditions increasing their risk to severe influenza (over six months)

• People older than 65 years

• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children from six months to five years

• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders aged 15 years and above

• Pregnant women

For others, the flu vaccine is available from people’s local General Practice and at some pharmacies.

“Usually at this time of year there has been an initial rush of people getting their vaccines and I’d just like to urge those people who haven’t got theirs yet to do so soon,” Dr Gair said.

“Being vaccinated not only protects your family, but also helps prevent the spread of these diseases to your friends and loved ones.”

Your nearest immunisation service can be found online.