WA Prime Minister Mark McGowan has urged Western Australians to receive a free flu shot this month ahead of an expected “severe” winter season, and also revealed that six more people had died with COVID.
Mr. McGowan rolled up his sleeves, this time at a Belmont pharmacy, to encourage others to get vaccinated against the flu.
He said it was vital to ease the pressure on the health system, noting that about 100 people died from the flu during the 2019 season.
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“I urge everyone in Western Australia to take advantage of the state government’s offer for flu-free vaccination across Western Australia,” the Prime Minister told reporters.
“During the month of June, you will have the opportunity to get a free flu shot at participating pharmacies, participating GPs and our state vaccination clinics.
Camera Icon Mark McGowan prepares to receive his flu shot. Credit: Justin Benson-Cooper / The West Australian
“We do the right thing for each other and we get vaccinated.”
About 22 percent of the state’s eligible population is currently vaccinated against the virus.
While patients eligible for the National Immunization Program can now get free flu shots, the state government’s free program this month will save another $ 20.
Before it began on June 1, the number of flu cases in WA had risen from one to three cases during the first three weeks of April to 97 last week.
McGowan said borders that had been closed for the past two years had reduced the number of WA flu, but predicted that they would increase with international and domestic travel.
When asked if the state was considering tougher measures to reduce the flu, given the lessons learned from the pandemic, McGowan said there was nothing on the table at this stage.
“The experience of COVID has obviously been something that makes us very aware of the transmissibility of diseases and the potential that can cause problems in the community,” he said.
Overnight, 7,092 new cases of COVID were recorded, down from 8,292 on Thursday.
Of these, 275 are in hospital, and nine in intensive care.
The latest death toll brings the death toll in the state to 269.