ONE in four people are forgoing a flu shot saying the virus will not strike them, the nation's peak pharmacy body says.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Pharmacy Guild of Australia is raising the alarm as new figures show almost one in 10 people hospitalised with the infection last year were admitted to intensive care.
About 19,000 flu cases have been reported already this year with 108 cases in the Grampians referred to the state health department.
This comes as the region's health experts are encouraging people to fend off an early jab and keep waiting until late April for best effect leading into winter.
- READ MORE: To jab or not to jab in Ballarat just yet?
Pharmacies, including UFS, are encouraging people to book once vaccination programs are made available late next month in line with health department recommendations.
Immunisation Coalition chief executive officer Kim Sampson told The Courier last week it was difficult to predict the severity of a flu season and it was best to be prepared with an annual vaccination shot.
There was a 40 per cent rise nationwide for flu vaccinations last year following a severe winter season in 2017. The 2018 winter was a mild flu season.
City of Ballarat is no longer provide flu immunisations at council health sites. This follows a review of the city's immunisation program last year.
Have you signed up to The Courier's variety of news emails? You can register below and make sure you are up to date with everything that's happening in Ballarat.