CHILDREN under the age of seven are more likely to be affected by the flu this season after two winters with little exposure, Flutracking founder Dr Craig Dalton says.
Cases of influenza are still at "historically low" levels compared with pre-pandemic rates, but the University of Newcastle public health physician said there was "no doubt" it was on the rise.
"The only thing we can say with any confidence is that there is likely to be increased flu activity in children under seven at least, because of having two winters without much flu transmission," he said. "Some of them may have had flu exposure in their first couple of years, but we will now be accumulating a bigger group of kids who have not had any flu exposure."
Dr Dalton said the Omicron variant of COVID-19, which they were monitoring via Flutracking.net, appeared to have peaked.
It comes as NSW Health urges parents to book a flu shot for children aged between six months and five years, in particular, with almost two-in-10 kids catching influenza as the autumn chill hits.
With COVID-19 social restrictions relaxed and travel across international borders in full swing, more people of all ages will be more at risk of influenza than in the past two years, Dr Vicky Sheppeard, of Health Protection NSW, warned.
Vaccinations are available through GPs for those aged six months and over and also through pharmacies for people aged 10 and above. Those at higher risk of severe illness from the flu include Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children as well as pregnant women and people over 65.
