Health authorities push flu vaccination following death of Melbourne boy

Parents are being urged to book their children in for a free flu vaccination following the death of a four-year-old boy.

The boy, who died at the Austin Hospital in Melbourne’s northeast on June 10, was farewelled at a private funeral on Tuesday.

The Victorian Department of Health’s latest surveillance data revealed that notified influenza cases had increased across all age groups, with the biggest increase recorded in those aged under five.

The same fortnight of the boy’s death, cases in the age group were up 37 per cent.

More broadly, notified flu cases quadrupled, and there was a six-fold increase in the number of emergency department presentations between April and June.

“We’re expecting flu cases to keep rising in the weeks ahead so it’s critical people book in their flu vaccination now, particularly for those groups at higher risk of severe illness such as children,” Chief Health Officer Dr Clare Looker said.

“Flu is highly contagious and while most people may only experience mild to moderate symptoms, for some it can be deadly.”

Just 23 per cent of Victorians aged under five have had their free annual flu vaccination this season, however, authorities are concerned by low vaccination coverage across the board.

The flu vaccination is free for people at higher risk of severe disease, including children under five and people aged 65 and older and is widely available across GPs, pharmacists and other providers.

Symptoms of the flu — which is a highly contagious viral infection of the respiratory tract — can include fever, cough, body aches, tiredness, chills, sore throat, loss of appetite and a runny or stuffy nose.

More serious complications may include lung infection (pneumonia) or severe breathing difficulties which require urgent medical care and hospitalisation.