‘Dropped the ball': Dire Covid warning
Fewer than 250,000 Queenslanders have received their free Covid booster this year, prompting urgent calls from doctors to people who have not yet been vaccinated to get the jab. Fewer than 250,000 Queenslanders have received their free Covid booster. NewsWire / Dan Peled Credit: News Corp Australia
The calls come as new data from the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing revealed that more than 15,000 Covid cases had been reported in Queensland since January, with almost 3000 people hospitalised with the virus.
'We have dropped the ball with Covid-19 vaccinations, but this disease is still very prevalent in the community and poses a serious threat to high-risk patients,' Mater director of infectious diseases Paul Griffin said.
'Particularly for high-risk people, it should now be a once-a-year booster, just like the flu vaccine is, and with winter here next week, now is the time to get vaccinated and it's safe to get them both together. Australians have 'dropped the ball' when it comes to vaccination. NewsWire / Adam Yip Credit: News Corp Australia
'There are hundreds of different strains of Omicron, and the new subvariant NB. 1.8.1 is driving up infections and hospitalisations, particularly in Asia and Western Australia.
'The best way to protect yourself and your family is to get the newest booster which provides very good coverage, is safe, and will reduce the severity of your symptoms if you contract Covid-19.'
Queensland health providers are dealing with high cases of both flu and RSV, in addition to Covid.
More than 2000 Queenslanders have been hospitalised with the flu this year.
Cases are up more than 30 per cent from the same time last year, but only a quarter of Queenslanders have been vaccinated. More than 2000 Queenslanders have been hospitalised with the flu this year. NewsWire / Nicki Connolly Credit: News Corp Australia
'We are at our lowest levels of vaccination and protection in five years and with early rises in cases with winter approaching, the impact on our healthcare system could be significant, particularly with high levels of flu and RSV,' Professor Griffin said.
The Covid and flu vaccines are free in Queensland and available at most pharmacies and GP clinics, and they are safe to receive at the same time
In addition to Covid and the flu, about 12,000 cases of RSV have been reported in Queensland this year, with more than 1500 people hospitalised.
'More than half of these hospitalisations have been for the most vulnerable in our community, babies less than six months and people over 65,' Professor Griffin said. In addition to Covid and the flu, about 12,000 cases of RSV have been reported in Queensland this year. NewsWire / Dan Peled Credit: News Corp Australia
RSV is the leading cause of hospitalisation for babies in Australia, and Queensland recorded the highest number of deaths due to RSV last year.
RSV vaccinations are free for pregnant women, with immunity then passed onto babies up until they are six months old.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Advertiser
44 minutes ago
- The Advertiser
'Woo-woo': bewildering breast cancer case revealed for NRLW magic round
Sarah Withyman was diagnosed with breast cancer through a series of lucky events that she believes saved her life. She's sharing her story to support the Newcastle-based Breast Cancer Trials organisation. It's the charity partner for day one of the NRLW Magic Round at McDonald Jones Stadium on Saturday. Sarah's family is football mad. Her three kids - Lennox, 14, Geogie, 11, and Alby, 8 - play for Valentine Devils. Lennox is also with the Newcastle Knights junior program. Sarah's niece Stevie Botham, 18, has been selected for the Australian Schoolgirls team. And husband Adam played for the Knights reserve grade. "We live and breathe football. There's no escaping it," Sarah said. "My daughter tried to be a ballerina, but now she's a footy player. "You can't walk down my hallway without getting tackled." Sarah was diagnosed in June 2021 at age 38. "To this day I'm bewildered by it. I was the healthiest and fittest I'd been in my life." She said the strange events that led to her diagnosis were "woo-woo kind of stuff". This included meeting a woman named Belinda because "my small child Alby kept going to her caravan while on holidays at Scotts Head". Belinda, who had breast cancer, urged Sarah to get a small lump on her breast checked. "Without this, I more than likely would not be here today," Sarah said. The lump turned out to be shingles, which went away with treatment. However, her doctor sent her for a mammogram and ultrasound "just to be safe". "They found a tiny tumour, which was not related at all to the initial lump," she said. "It was the most aggressive breast cancer. It was caught extremely early." Her lymph nodes were clear, but she opted for "four rounds of chemo for insurance". "I had a double mastectomy to seal the deal," she said. "Now I have breast implants after a breast reconstruction. I absolutely hate them. "They look all right, but I don't like the feel of them." At the time, she thought "chop them off, get rid of them". "Now I think I could have sat with it a bit longer," she said. "It was a crazy time. We were in the middle of COVID. I thought the world was going to end." Now 42, she has changed her perspective on life. "I do crazy shit I wish I did when I was 20. I'm just like f--k it, I could die. "It's probably a bit wild, but anything that petrifies me I give it a go. "I used to look four times before crossing the road." She's done a triathlon and climbed mountains. She swam 20 kilometres to raise $3000 for Breast Cancer Trials. She does surf boat rowing, which was "so out of my comfort zone". "I'd always been a bit shy, or not one to put myself out there. Now I don't care, whatever, judge away." Nonetheless, she had "always had a very positive mindset". "Some people give up and think 'poor me'. I've always been quite strong-minded. That helped massively." The NRLW Magic Round, to be held on Saturday and Sunday, features six NRLW games. Karen Price, CEO of Breast Cancer Trials, said "we want to raise awareness of how clinical trials can help people". "Women participating in our clinical trials today, and those diagnosed in the future, will benefit from advances made possible by our work." They focus on survival rates, improving treatments and preventing breast cancer in people who have the highest risk. Safely reducing the amount of treatment and preventing cancer from returning were other aims. "Our goals are strongly aligned to improvements in women's health, including participation in sport." Visit Sarah Withyman was diagnosed with breast cancer through a series of lucky events that she believes saved her life. She's sharing her story to support the Newcastle-based Breast Cancer Trials organisation. It's the charity partner for day one of the NRLW Magic Round at McDonald Jones Stadium on Saturday. Sarah's family is football mad. Her three kids - Lennox, 14, Geogie, 11, and Alby, 8 - play for Valentine Devils. Lennox is also with the Newcastle Knights junior program. Sarah's niece Stevie Botham, 18, has been selected for the Australian Schoolgirls team. And husband Adam played for the Knights reserve grade. "We live and breathe football. There's no escaping it," Sarah said. "My daughter tried to be a ballerina, but now she's a footy player. "You can't walk down my hallway without getting tackled." Sarah was diagnosed in June 2021 at age 38. "To this day I'm bewildered by it. I was the healthiest and fittest I'd been in my life." She said the strange events that led to her diagnosis were "woo-woo kind of stuff". This included meeting a woman named Belinda because "my small child Alby kept going to her caravan while on holidays at Scotts Head". Belinda, who had breast cancer, urged Sarah to get a small lump on her breast checked. "Without this, I more than likely would not be here today," Sarah said. The lump turned out to be shingles, which went away with treatment. However, her doctor sent her for a mammogram and ultrasound "just to be safe". "They found a tiny tumour, which was not related at all to the initial lump," she said. "It was the most aggressive breast cancer. It was caught extremely early." Her lymph nodes were clear, but she opted for "four rounds of chemo for insurance". "I had a double mastectomy to seal the deal," she said. "Now I have breast implants after a breast reconstruction. I absolutely hate them. "They look all right, but I don't like the feel of them." At the time, she thought "chop them off, get rid of them". "Now I think I could have sat with it a bit longer," she said. "It was a crazy time. We were in the middle of COVID. I thought the world was going to end." Now 42, she has changed her perspective on life. "I do crazy shit I wish I did when I was 20. I'm just like f--k it, I could die. "It's probably a bit wild, but anything that petrifies me I give it a go. "I used to look four times before crossing the road." She's done a triathlon and climbed mountains. She swam 20 kilometres to raise $3000 for Breast Cancer Trials. She does surf boat rowing, which was "so out of my comfort zone". "I'd always been a bit shy, or not one to put myself out there. Now I don't care, whatever, judge away." Nonetheless, she had "always had a very positive mindset". "Some people give up and think 'poor me'. I've always been quite strong-minded. That helped massively." The NRLW Magic Round, to be held on Saturday and Sunday, features six NRLW games. Karen Price, CEO of Breast Cancer Trials, said "we want to raise awareness of how clinical trials can help people". "Women participating in our clinical trials today, and those diagnosed in the future, will benefit from advances made possible by our work." They focus on survival rates, improving treatments and preventing breast cancer in people who have the highest risk. Safely reducing the amount of treatment and preventing cancer from returning were other aims. "Our goals are strongly aligned to improvements in women's health, including participation in sport." Visit Sarah Withyman was diagnosed with breast cancer through a series of lucky events that she believes saved her life. She's sharing her story to support the Newcastle-based Breast Cancer Trials organisation. It's the charity partner for day one of the NRLW Magic Round at McDonald Jones Stadium on Saturday. Sarah's family is football mad. Her three kids - Lennox, 14, Geogie, 11, and Alby, 8 - play for Valentine Devils. Lennox is also with the Newcastle Knights junior program. Sarah's niece Stevie Botham, 18, has been selected for the Australian Schoolgirls team. And husband Adam played for the Knights reserve grade. "We live and breathe football. There's no escaping it," Sarah said. "My daughter tried to be a ballerina, but now she's a footy player. "You can't walk down my hallway without getting tackled." Sarah was diagnosed in June 2021 at age 38. "To this day I'm bewildered by it. I was the healthiest and fittest I'd been in my life." She said the strange events that led to her diagnosis were "woo-woo kind of stuff". This included meeting a woman named Belinda because "my small child Alby kept going to her caravan while on holidays at Scotts Head". Belinda, who had breast cancer, urged Sarah to get a small lump on her breast checked. "Without this, I more than likely would not be here today," Sarah said. The lump turned out to be shingles, which went away with treatment. However, her doctor sent her for a mammogram and ultrasound "just to be safe". "They found a tiny tumour, which was not related at all to the initial lump," she said. "It was the most aggressive breast cancer. It was caught extremely early." Her lymph nodes were clear, but she opted for "four rounds of chemo for insurance". "I had a double mastectomy to seal the deal," she said. "Now I have breast implants after a breast reconstruction. I absolutely hate them. "They look all right, but I don't like the feel of them." At the time, she thought "chop them off, get rid of them". "Now I think I could have sat with it a bit longer," she said. "It was a crazy time. We were in the middle of COVID. I thought the world was going to end." Now 42, she has changed her perspective on life. "I do crazy shit I wish I did when I was 20. I'm just like f--k it, I could die. "It's probably a bit wild, but anything that petrifies me I give it a go. "I used to look four times before crossing the road." She's done a triathlon and climbed mountains. She swam 20 kilometres to raise $3000 for Breast Cancer Trials. She does surf boat rowing, which was "so out of my comfort zone". "I'd always been a bit shy, or not one to put myself out there. Now I don't care, whatever, judge away." Nonetheless, she had "always had a very positive mindset". "Some people give up and think 'poor me'. I've always been quite strong-minded. That helped massively." The NRLW Magic Round, to be held on Saturday and Sunday, features six NRLW games. Karen Price, CEO of Breast Cancer Trials, said "we want to raise awareness of how clinical trials can help people". "Women participating in our clinical trials today, and those diagnosed in the future, will benefit from advances made possible by our work." They focus on survival rates, improving treatments and preventing breast cancer in people who have the highest risk. Safely reducing the amount of treatment and preventing cancer from returning were other aims. "Our goals are strongly aligned to improvements in women's health, including participation in sport." Visit Sarah Withyman was diagnosed with breast cancer through a series of lucky events that she believes saved her life. She's sharing her story to support the Newcastle-based Breast Cancer Trials organisation. It's the charity partner for day one of the NRLW Magic Round at McDonald Jones Stadium on Saturday. Sarah's family is football mad. Her three kids - Lennox, 14, Geogie, 11, and Alby, 8 - play for Valentine Devils. Lennox is also with the Newcastle Knights junior program. Sarah's niece Stevie Botham, 18, has been selected for the Australian Schoolgirls team. And husband Adam played for the Knights reserve grade. "We live and breathe football. There's no escaping it," Sarah said. "My daughter tried to be a ballerina, but now she's a footy player. "You can't walk down my hallway without getting tackled." Sarah was diagnosed in June 2021 at age 38. "To this day I'm bewildered by it. I was the healthiest and fittest I'd been in my life." She said the strange events that led to her diagnosis were "woo-woo kind of stuff". This included meeting a woman named Belinda because "my small child Alby kept going to her caravan while on holidays at Scotts Head". Belinda, who had breast cancer, urged Sarah to get a small lump on her breast checked. "Without this, I more than likely would not be here today," Sarah said. The lump turned out to be shingles, which went away with treatment. However, her doctor sent her for a mammogram and ultrasound "just to be safe". "They found a tiny tumour, which was not related at all to the initial lump," she said. "It was the most aggressive breast cancer. It was caught extremely early." Her lymph nodes were clear, but she opted for "four rounds of chemo for insurance". "I had a double mastectomy to seal the deal," she said. "Now I have breast implants after a breast reconstruction. I absolutely hate them. "They look all right, but I don't like the feel of them." At the time, she thought "chop them off, get rid of them". "Now I think I could have sat with it a bit longer," she said. "It was a crazy time. We were in the middle of COVID. I thought the world was going to end." Now 42, she has changed her perspective on life. "I do crazy shit I wish I did when I was 20. I'm just like f--k it, I could die. "It's probably a bit wild, but anything that petrifies me I give it a go. "I used to look four times before crossing the road." She's done a triathlon and climbed mountains. She swam 20 kilometres to raise $3000 for Breast Cancer Trials. She does surf boat rowing, which was "so out of my comfort zone". "I'd always been a bit shy, or not one to put myself out there. Now I don't care, whatever, judge away." Nonetheless, she had "always had a very positive mindset". "Some people give up and think 'poor me'. I've always been quite strong-minded. That helped massively." The NRLW Magic Round, to be held on Saturday and Sunday, features six NRLW games. Karen Price, CEO of Breast Cancer Trials, said "we want to raise awareness of how clinical trials can help people". "Women participating in our clinical trials today, and those diagnosed in the future, will benefit from advances made possible by our work." They focus on survival rates, improving treatments and preventing breast cancer in people who have the highest risk. Safely reducing the amount of treatment and preventing cancer from returning were other aims. "Our goals are strongly aligned to improvements in women's health, including participation in sport." Visit
West Australian
4 hours ago
- West Australian
Survivors call for more assistance with cancer costs
A young breast cancer survivor is calling for diagnostic tests to be made free because she fears high living costs could deter others seeking early examinations due to the expense. Despite significant improvements to treatments and survival rates, breast cancer remains the most diagnosed cancer among women worldwide. In Australia, 58 people receive the same news mum-of-two Aimee Glen did each day. Age is the greatest risk factor and screening is offered to women over 40. However young women should also be aware of their risk, particularly if they have a family history of the disease. Ms Glen was just 31 when she first noticed a lump in her breast and was soon after diagnosed with stage two ER/PR breast cancer. She had no family history but a reminder from the Instagram account Support Your Girls prompted her to do a self-check. She then booked in to see her GP who referred her for an ultrasound at the Geelong breast clinic which was followed by multiple diagnostic tests. "It was all very quick from when I was tested to when I started treatment," Ms Glen tells AAP. "I had 16 rounds of chemotherapy known as 'the red devil' which is very hard-hitting treatment but breast cancer responds well to it." Following this, she decided to undergo a double mastectomy and has recently finished three weeks of daily radiotherapy. "The entire cancer treatment was incredibly expensive but those initial diagnostic tests were a financial stressor which is very difficult for people," she says. So far Ms Glen has spent $1442 and been left $787 out of pocket after Medicare rebates. In the meantime, she has started a petition to make ultrasounds and mammograms free for diagnostic purposes, which has gained nearly 14,000 signatures in two weeks. "There are options to go through the public system but people often have to wait months to get in and sometimes it's not an option if you do have an aggressive cancer," she says. "The petition is gaining a lot of traction, which makes me realise it has affected a lot of women and men, because breast cancer doesn't discriminate and affects a lot of people." So Brave is a charity supporting Australians facing breast cancer and its founder, Rachelle Panitz, fears young women are putting off diagnostic scans due to out-of-pocket cost. They can also have trouble accessing a diagnosis in the first place because the cancer is generally thought to affect older women, she adds. "An initial diagnosis can cost up to $3000 when you factor in all the scans and tests," Ms Panitz says. "Young women are borrowing money from their parents; they may be in the workforce but don't have that spare income." Ms Panitz has met with federal politicians about making access to diagnosis easier and more affordable. "People put (the scans) off and that can lead to worse outcomes. These kinds of considerations are not new but they are exacerbated by the cost of living," she explains. Australia's BreastScreen program is free for women over 40 and women over 50 are invited for a mammogram every two years. There is no evidence to support routinely screening women under 40, unless they are at high risk of developing breast cancer due to genetic mutations, National Breast Cancer Foundation chair in cancer prevention Nehmat Houssami says. "A key message for women, including younger women, but relevant to all women even if they have recently screened, is if you notice a change in your breast ... then please see your family doctor and talk to them about being referred for testing," she says. Changes can include a lump in the breast or a change in the skin. "Medicare covers some of the cost of these tests but unless the service bulk bills there will be out-of-pocket expenses," Professor Houssami says. "So it is possible that some women may not be accessing tests due to out-of-pocket costs." According to the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing, federal, state and territory governments recently undertook a BreastScreen funding review, with the final report now being considered. "The review was a collaborative initiative aimed at enhancing the BreastScreen Australia program and was completed in mid-2025," a spokesperson says. "The latest evidence on breast cancer screening age range and screening technologies were considered as part of the review."
Perth Now
4 hours ago
- Perth Now
Survivors call for more assistance with cancer costs
A young breast cancer survivor is calling for diagnostic tests to be made free because she fears high living costs could deter others seeking early examinations due to the expense. Despite significant improvements to treatments and survival rates, breast cancer remains the most diagnosed cancer among women worldwide. In Australia, 58 people receive the same news mum-of-two Aimee Glen did each day. Age is the greatest risk factor and screening is offered to women over 40. However young women should also be aware of their risk, particularly if they have a family history of the disease. Ms Glen was just 31 when she first noticed a lump in her breast and was soon after diagnosed with stage two ER/PR breast cancer. She had no family history but a reminder from the Instagram account Support Your Girls prompted her to do a self-check. She then booked in to see her GP who referred her for an ultrasound at the Geelong breast clinic which was followed by multiple diagnostic tests. "It was all very quick from when I was tested to when I started treatment," Ms Glen tells AAP. "I had 16 rounds of chemotherapy known as 'the red devil' which is very hard-hitting treatment but breast cancer responds well to it." Following this, she decided to undergo a double mastectomy and has recently finished three weeks of daily radiotherapy. "The entire cancer treatment was incredibly expensive but those initial diagnostic tests were a financial stressor which is very difficult for people," she says. So far Ms Glen has spent $1442 and been left $787 out of pocket after Medicare rebates. In the meantime, she has started a petition to make ultrasounds and mammograms free for diagnostic purposes, which has gained nearly 14,000 signatures in two weeks. "There are options to go through the public system but people often have to wait months to get in and sometimes it's not an option if you do have an aggressive cancer," she says. "The petition is gaining a lot of traction, which makes me realise it has affected a lot of women and men, because breast cancer doesn't discriminate and affects a lot of people." So Brave is a charity supporting Australians facing breast cancer and its founder, Rachelle Panitz, fears young women are putting off diagnostic scans due to out-of-pocket cost. They can also have trouble accessing a diagnosis in the first place because the cancer is generally thought to affect older women, she adds. "An initial diagnosis can cost up to $3000 when you factor in all the scans and tests," Ms Panitz says. "Young women are borrowing money from their parents; they may be in the workforce but don't have that spare income." Ms Panitz has met with federal politicians about making access to diagnosis easier and more affordable. "People put (the scans) off and that can lead to worse outcomes. These kinds of considerations are not new but they are exacerbated by the cost of living," she explains. Australia's BreastScreen program is free for women over 40 and women over 50 are invited for a mammogram every two years. There is no evidence to support routinely screening women under 40, unless they are at high risk of developing breast cancer due to genetic mutations, National Breast Cancer Foundation chair in cancer prevention Nehmat Houssami says. "A key message for women, including younger women, but relevant to all women even if they have recently screened, is if you notice a change in your breast ... then please see your family doctor and talk to them about being referred for testing," she says. Changes can include a lump in the breast or a change in the skin. "Medicare covers some of the cost of these tests but unless the service bulk bills there will be out-of-pocket expenses," Professor Houssami says. "So it is possible that some women may not be accessing tests due to out-of-pocket costs." According to the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing, federal, state and territory governments recently undertook a BreastScreen funding review, with the final report now being considered. "The review was a collaborative initiative aimed at enhancing the BreastScreen Australia program and was completed in mid-2025," a spokesperson says. "The latest evidence on breast cancer screening age range and screening technologies were considered as part of the review."
