More than a dozen Queenslanders have already been hit with the double whammy of COVID-19 and flu virus infections in the past three weeks, most of them needing to be hospitalised.
After getting her flu jab, Health Minister Yvette D'Ath said she was concerned about the "life-threatening" risk of Queenslanders being struck down with both viruses at once this winter.
"We're expecting a big flu season this year," she said.
"We are already seeing more flu cases this year than we had for the whole of 2021. Some people will end up getting COVID and influenza and this is of great risk.
Eight more people died in the state with COVID-19 in the latest reporting period and 7,668 new cases were recorded.
There are 504 people being treated in hospital with the virus, including 21 in intensive care.
'COVID-19 and influenza seems to be particularly severe'
Chief Health Officer John Gerrard said more than 800 flu cases had already been confirmed in Queensland this year – up from the 296 cases recorded for the entirety of 2021.
"As we had suspected, as our pandemic measures have relaxed, we are seeing increasing numbers of cases of influenza and we are likely to see a significant wave of influenza on top of COVID-19 this winter," Dr Gerrard said.
"The combination of COVID-19 and influenza seems to be particularly severe."
Dr Gerrard urged Queenslanders to get a flu shot and to be up to date with their COVID-19 vaccines.
"Influenza … can be a severe disease," he said.
"If we get it, it's likely to be more severe."
'Difficult' winter ahead
Dr Gerrard said Queensland's hospitals were preparing for "a difficult winter".
"We always knew this was going to happen," he said.
"Queensland had to open up at some point and when it opened up, new viruses will be introduced.
"The last two years have been very aberrant. We've had very little influenza, a very low death rate over the winter … because we've been protected from the virus.
"But that couldn't last forever."
Ms D'Ath said 120 new paramedics were due to start this month in Queensland to help the state deal "with the winter surge" of infections.
"We are embarking and working on a broader workforce strategy to attract and retain doctors and nurses and other health professionals across the state," she said.
"We are constantly recruiting. Every state is struggling with workforce shortages."
Flu shots are free for children aged from six months to less than five years and for people aged 65 and over.
They are also free for pregnant women, Indigenous Australians aged six months and older and people with chronic health conditions.
