Latest news with #fluSeason
ABC News
05-07-2025
- Health
- ABC News
Influenza cases nearly 20 per cent higher than 2024 as Queensland faces one of its worst flu seasons in years
Queensland is looking at one of its worst flu seasons in years, at a time when government incentives appear to have failed to improve vaccination rates. So far this year, influenza cases are nearly 20 per cent higher than they were last year, and 2,800 cases were recorded in the last week alone — the highest weekly total of 2025. The volume of virus within the community is of real concern to experts, who forecast a potential "surge" in cases after the school holidays. "Kids are all heading back to school in a couple of weeks, which will give them the opportunity to spread [influenza]," Dr Stephen Lambert, a senior medical officer with the National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance (NCIRS) said. "This time last year, we probably only had a third to a half of our cases. "So, there's the real chance we'll be getting a surge of cases later in winter that people still have the opportunity to protect themselves against." So far this year, 80 Queenslanders have died from influenza. According to Queensland Health, 300 beds are being taken up each day across the state for people with the flu. Of the 3,000 people who have been hospitalised as a result of influenza in 2025, 92 per cent have not been vaccinated. Since 2022, the Queensland government has funded free flu vaccinations, yet the state continues to have some of the lowest vaccination rates in the country, particularly amongst children. According to data provided by NCIRS, just 16 per cent of children under five have had a flu jab so far this year in Queensland — the lowest in the country. At 11.5 per cent, the rate of children aged between 5 to 15 who have been vaccinated is second only to the Northern Territory as the lowest in the country. Queensland's vaccination rates for those aged between 15 to 50 is also the second lowest nationally. "I think so many people think these viruses only affect the old and heavily co-morbid, so if you're young and fit and well, you don't need to worry about them," said Dr Paul Griffin, director of infectious diseases at the Mater Hospital. "That's certainly not the case. Unfortunately, every year we see young people without traditional risk factors end up unwell in hospital." While those aged over 65 are at particular risk from flu, Queensland Health warned children are some of the most effective spreaders of the virus in the community, and young children are a very vulnerable cohort. So far this year, 450 children aged between six months and 17 years old have been hospitalised with influenza. Free flu vaccinations were introduced to address a decline in the number of people getting one post-pandemic. In 2022, 36 per cent of Queenslanders got vaccinated, declining to just 29 per cent by 2024. This year the government extended the program, allocating $25 million towards it. However, Dr Lambert said vaccination rates remained stubbornly low in 2025. "I'm not sure the message is really getting out there, despite our efforts," he said. "I've spoken to friends who aren't involved in health who haven't been aware that they can get a free flu vaccine this year." Dr Lambert said he suspected there was an element of "vaccine fatigue" in the community post-pandemic, and some complacency about the potential seriousness of influenza. He said a small number of people with a strong anti-vaccination stance were also more active and effective at getting their message out there. "They're very energised, they're very vitriolic … and perhaps some of that messaging leaks out into other people who were perhaps sitting on the fence," Dr Lambert said. "It's a shame that's potentially resulted in people having some hesitancy or scepticism about receiving vaccination, because they're one of the best public health interventions we've had in the past 100 years." Dr Griffin said the amount of misinformation about vaccines was very prevalent online. "If people get their information from social media and other outlets that are just full of misinformation, then they'll be misled to a degree that actually creates a very significant amount of harm. "So, get your information from reputable sources."
CTV News
26-06-2025
- Health
- CTV News
Kennedy's vaccine committee endorses preservative-free fall flu shots
U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr., testifies during a House Energy and Commerce Committee, Tuesday, June 24, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mariam Zuhaib) ATLANTA -- The Trump administration's new vaccine advisers on Thursday endorsed this fall's flu vaccinations for just about every American but threw in a twist: Only use certain shots free of an ingredient antivaccine groups have falsely tied to autism. What is normally a routine step in preparing for the upcoming flu season drew intense scrutiny after U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. abruptly fired the influential 17-member Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices and handpicked replacements that include several vaccine skeptics. That seven-member panel bucked another norm Thursday: It deliberated the safety of a preservative used in less than five per cent of U.S. flu vaccinations based on a presentation from an antivaccine group's former leader -- without allowing the usual public presentation of scientific data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The preservative, thimerosal, has long been used in certain vaccines that come in multi-dose vials, to prevent contamination as each dose is withdrawn. But it has been controversial because it contains a small amount of a particular form of mercury. Study after study has found no evidence that it causes autism or other harm. Yet since 2001, vaccines used for U.S. children age six years or younger have come in thimerosal-free formulas -- including single-dose flu shots that account for the vast majority of influenza vaccinations. The panel voted 5-1, with one abstention, that people ages six months and older get a flu vaccination this fall only using single-dose formulas that are thimerosal-free. 'There is still no demonstrable evidence of harm,' one adviser, Dr. Joseph Hibbeln, a psychiatrist formerly with the National Institutes of Health, said in acknowledging the panel wasn't following its usual practice of acting on evidence. But he added that 'whether the actual molecule is a risk or not, we have to respect the fear of mercury' that might dissuade some people from getting vaccinated. The ACIP, created more than 60 years ago, helps the CDC determine who should be vaccinated against a long list of diseases, and when. Those recommendations have a big impact on whether insurance covers vaccinations and where they're available. Kennedy has long held there was a tie between thimerosal and autism, and also accused the government of hiding the danger. Thimerosal was placed on the meeting agenda shortly after Kennedy's new vaccine advisory was named last week. Some public health experts contend the thimerosal discussion unnecessarily raised doubt in vaccines while possibly also making them more expensive and harder to get this fall. At the panel's meeting Wednesday, Chrissie Juliano, executive director of the Big Cities Health Coalition, lamented the ouster of the former ACIP panel and the agenda of the new one. Her organization, which represents large city health departments, 'is deeply concerned that many routine vaccines may soon become inaccessible or unaffordable for millions of Americans if ACIP makes changes based on ideology rather than science,' she said. 'The stakes are simply too high to let that happen.' ------ By Mike Stobbe And Lauran Neergaard Neergaard reported from Washington. The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute's Department of Science Education and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
Daily Mail
24-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
US expat makes a brutal observation of Aussies during flu season... but all is not as it seems
A US expat has taken aim at how Australians cope during flu season - but his experience of life Down Under isn't quite as it seems. Jack Sheader, 24, has caused a stir with his observations about daily life in Australia from his home in Sydney 's Northern Beaches from America. Mr Sheader, who works in marketing, made a TikTok video about the very common phrase used by Australians during the cooler months. 'So a fun little fact about Australia is that in the months of winter if you have flu-like symptoms in front of someone else there is a 100 per cent chance that person will turn to you and say "Yeah, there's something going around, isn't there?"' he said. 'All of my Australian friends have said those words to me.' 'Even complete strangers that I do not know will say those exact words to me "There's something going around". 'Is this a common turn of phrase in Australia that I don't know of?' He signed off by asking Aussies if they had noticed this popular phrase Down Under. But, in a major twist, Mr Sheader revealed to this publication he is in fact Australian. 'I am actually just an Australian doing an American accent. It's reassuring to know that my accent was convincing enough to fool the masses,' he said. The 24-year-old has shared dozens of videos documenting his time as an 'American' in Australia including trying Vegemite for the first time. In one video, he enraged viewers when he peeled back the plastic on a 'squeeze-on' sauce sachet - a notoriously Australian invention. 'A lesson in "How to trigger the Aussie population in less than 30 secs". Well played sir!!' one person commented. 'Aussies are all screaming at the screen!' another wrote. Explaining why he adopted the American persona, Mr Sheader said he was finding it impossible to escape the US in any Australian media outlet. 'I struggle to come to terms with the fact that despite facing global crises, my social media was constantly inundated by the circus in the States,' he explained. 'The content started as satire, as a way to poke fun at those in the US who forget they are but one part of a much larger system. 'What I did not expect to see however, was the Australia band together and share a laugh at the absurdity. 'In fact it was quite beautiful seeing how proud we are as a nation and of our education system, cultural norms and other standards we take for granted!'
Health Line
23-06-2025
- Health
- Health Line
What's the Best Time of the Year to Get a Flu Shot?
Getting vaccinated can lower your chances of getting the flu. While you can get a flu shot anytime during flu season, the timing does matter. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the seasonal flu causes around 120,000 to 710,000 hospitalizations and 6300 to 52,000 deaths every year in the United States. In this article, we'll help you understand how to time your flu vaccine for maximum protection. When should you get a flu shot? In the northern hemisphere, the CDC recommends getting vaccinated between early September and late October. The flu virus is around all year, but it spreads more easily from September through the spring, generally peaking between December and February. It takes about 2 weeks to develop enough antibodies from the flu vaccine to protect you against the flu. Protection fades over time, so getting vaccinated before September may leave you more vulnerable toward the end of flu season. You can continue to get the vaccine through late winter to early spring. Children ages 6 months to 8 years may need 2 doses 4 weeks apart if they have not received at least 2 doses in prior years or do not know if they received this previously. Otherwise, they should be able to have an annual dose, so it's best to get them started in early September. Who shouldn't get vaccinated? If you're currently feeling sick, it's best to wait until you're better. Avoid the flu shot if you have a severe allergy to any of the ingredients that may be used in the vaccine, such as: thimerosal, a preservative monosodium glutamate (MSG), a stabilizer that keeps vaccines from losing their potency antibiotics, such as neomycin and gentamicin polysorbate 80, an emulsifier that keeps the ingredients from separating formaldehyde, which inactivates the flu virus Babies under 6 months old shouldn't be vaccinated. If you've had Guillain-Barré syndrome, talk with your doctor before getting the flu vaccine. The nasal spray contains a weakened live virus. It shouldn't be taken by people who: are younger than 2 or older than 50 years are 2 to 4 years old and have asthma are 2 to 17 years old and take medications containing aspirin or salicylate are pregnant have life threatening allergies to the flu vaccine have a suppressed immune system are in close contact with someone with a suppressed immune system have taken antiviral drugs for the flu within the previous 48 hours Talk with your doctor about the pros and cons of the nasal spray vaccine if you have: asthma or chronic lung disease a blood disorder diabetes or other metabolic disorders heart, kidney, or liver disease a neurologic or neuromuscular disorder How does the flu shot protect you? The flu shot prompts your immune system to produce antibodies against a specific strain of the flu. If you're exposed to this particular flu virus later, you'll already have antibodies ready to fight off the virus. It usually takes about 2 weeks to build up your immunity to a flu virus after you've been vaccinated against it. You'll have the most antibodies 3 to 4 weeks late r. After this time, your protection begins to decline. That's why you need a flu shot every year. Each year's vaccine is based on which strains are most likely to spread during that flu season. The vaccine won't protect you from every strain. But if you do get sick, it'll likely be less severe due to the vaccine. Getting your flu shot can help lower your risk of flu complications that could put you in the hospital. Are there side effects? Most people have little to no reaction following the vaccine. There's no live virus in the flu shot, so it can't give you the flu. Some people have a temporary reaction at the injection site, such as: tenderness redness or other color changes minor swelling This usually clears up within a day or two. Other side effects may include: headache lightheadedness Low grade fever muscle aches nausea These side effects are usually mild and should clear up in a couple of days. Signs of severe allergic reactions usually occur within a few hours. These may include: fainting hives hoarseness rapid heartbeat swelling of eyes or lips trouble breathing wheezing According to the CDC, life threatening reactions are rare. If you have signs of a severe allergic reaction, call 911 or your local emergency services immediately. Where can you go to get a flu shot? Usually, you can get a flu vaccine at your doctor's office, your local pharmacy, or even at a walk-in retail clinic. Some employers even provide flu shots for their employees at their workplace. How much does it cost? The flu shot is often free in the United States if you have health insurance. If you're not sure whether it's covered, call your insurance provider to find out if you need to pay anything toward the cost. Even without insurance, you should be able to find a flu vaccine for under $50. It's a free preventive service under Medicare and Affordable Care Act (ACA) compliant policies. If you don't have health insurance or can't afford a vaccine, you may still be able to find a low cost or no-cost flu vaccine. To learn more about these options, try the following: Call your doctor's office, local hospital, and local community clinics. Call local pharmacies, and be sure to ask about coupons. Contact your state health department. Visit a searchable database of local vaccine providers. The bottom line The flu can strike anyone and lead to serious, life threatening complications. The best time to get your flu shot is from early September to late October. This timing offers you and your loved ones maximum protection for the duration of the flu season.
CNET
14-06-2025
- Health
- CNET
You're Probably Not Washing Your Towels as Often as You Should
When it comes to chores, cleaning the bathroom is usually a pretty high priority. But even when we clean the bathroom often, it's easy to overlook less visibly dirty items -- like bath towels. Even though your bathroom towels may look clean, they could be holding massive amounts of bacteria and germs. Here's everything to know about how often you should wash your bath towels to keep them in tip-top shape. Plus, the best temperature for getting them the cleanest. Why do you need to clean your bath towels so often? When you dry off with towels, they get moist. This porous, damp environment is the perfect breeding ground for bacteria. A common bath towel can have yeast, mold and E. coli growing on it without you ever knowing it. Gross, right? Regular washing prevents bacteria from growing. LG's WashTower functions as one combined washer and dryer unit. LG When should you reuse or wash bathroom towels? Consumer Reports says that under normal circumstances, a towel can be used three or four times before it needs to be washed. That's "times" not "days." If you have many family members using a towel (like hand towels), it needs to be washed on the third or fourth use. The condition of the person using the towel matters, too. If they're sick, toss it in the laundry after one use. If it's flu season, it's best for every family member to have their own towel -- even if they aren't exhibiting symptoms -- to prevent the potential spread of germs. How often you wash towels also depends on how they're dried after usage. If towels find themselves on the floor, the lack of air circulation will cause bacteria to grow quickly. To prolong the life of your towel, be sure to place damp towels on a towel rack. Better yet, crack open a window or turn on the fan to reduce moisture in the room. Supercharge your dryer by cleaning its vent Supercharge your dryer by cleaning its vent Click to unmute Video Player is loading. Play Video Pause Skip Backward Skip Forward Next playlist item Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration 1:37 Loaded : 6.27% 0:00 Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 1:37 Share Fullscreen This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Opaque Semi-Transparent Text Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Caption Area Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Drop shadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Close Modal Dialog This is a modal window. This modal can be closed by pressing the Escape key or activating the close button. Close Modal Dialog This is a modal window. This modal can be closed by pressing the Escape key or activating the close button. Supercharge your dryer by cleaning its vent What temperature is best for washing bath towels? The Infection Control department of Mid-Western Regional Hospital of Ennis, Ireland, recommends washing towels in water that is at least 140 degrees Fahrenheit (60 degrees Celsius) or more to kill bacteria. So if you have a sanitize mode on your washing machine, use it. If not, you may consider raising the temperature on your water heater while washing that load. Be sure young children are supervised around sinks, tubs and showers while you do laundry, though, to prevent burns. And, before you reach for the fabric softener, don't. Fabric softener leaves residue on towels that makes them less absorbent.
