Vulnerable Australians should consider getting the flu jab, as Australia opens up international borders.

This year, there have been 584 cases of the flu, roughly half in Queensland.

Nigel McMillan, an expert in infectious diseases and immunology at Griffith University, said the flu will come into Queensland when the borders open up.

“It’s a winter virus, usually peaks around June/July and once we open up international borders, we are going to see the winter viruses coming down here,” he told 4BC Drive.

He said it was particularly important for certain groups to get vaccinated against the flu, the elderly and those with co-morbidities.

“We had a very early season in 2019 where it started peaking in March, when it really started to take off. If it was to happen that way again, you’d be looking to get your flu jabs in January/February but typically March/April.”

He said he’d like to think the legacy of the COVID-19 pandemic that people continue to wash their hands and sanitise.

“It will be interesting to see how the flu season goes in the Northern Hemisphere, they are going to be getting it kicked off pretty soon. That will give us a clue as to what might be coming our way and what vaccine coverage we might need to have.”

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