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Australia has already seen over 22,000 cases of the flu this year, as reported by the Australian Bureau of Statistics.
In January alone, there were 63 fatalities linked to the flu, a figure that is approximately double what is usually recorded for the month.
Paul Griffin, the Director of Infectious Diseases at Mater, attributes this spike in fatalities to the emergence of the Super-K strain.
“The significant number of deaths is primarily due to the highly transmissible Super-K variant and the current low vaccination rates,” he explained.
To counter the new variant, this year’s flu vaccines have been specifically updated, with preparations in place ahead of the flu season, which customarily begins in April.
But fewer people are getting their shots. 
Only about one in three Australians are receiving their flu shots, compared to more than half before the COVID-19 pandemic.
Those most at risk of flu hospitalisations and deaths include the elderly, children, pregnant women and immunocompromised people. 
Only 25 per cent of children under five received a flu shot and 60.5 per cent of people over 65 were vaccinated last year – the lowest number in six years.
Low vaccination rates have contributed to the deadliest flu season in a decade after 1701 people died from influenza last year.
That was about 400 more deaths than the national road toll.
Griffin urged people to get their flu, COVID and RSV vaccines ahead of the flu season as it typically takes about two weeks for them to kick in.
“Flu is a major public health threat, and everyone should have the annual vaccine, especially those who are most vulnerable and need the added protection it brings,” he said.
“This year, we need to do better and get as many people vaccinated as possible, before more lives are lost unnecessarily.”
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