[Janelle Ward]

Aussies have been a bit reluctant to get a flu jab this year, which maybe explains why cases are surging in some states. So is it too late to head to your doctor or pharmacy to get one?

The professional advice is no. Professor in medicine at the University of Western Australia Dr Yuben Moodley told SBS there was no doubt a flu vaccination was still valuable.

“Unequivocally, you get a flu shot and within a few days, your immune system is strengthened and then get exposed to the virus, you may still get symptoms but certainly it is not going to be as serious as if you were unvaccinated,” he said.

He added that it was difficult to predict whether we had seen the worst of the flu season yet or if cases would spike further. And that was an added stimulus to get vaccinated.

Data from the Australian Immunisation Register shows almost 8.7 million people were vaccinated between March and July – about 1.8 million people fewer than in the corresponding period last year.

Have you had a jab? If not, why not?

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