COVID-19 has plagued our lives since the first case was revealed in this country by Victoria Health on 25 January last year – 18 months ago.
However, there is one very big and potentially life-saving advantage to having the borders closed, to wearing masks and to a marked improvement in cleanliness on public transport, in shops and dare I say, aged care homes.
There is hardly anyone with flu.
Health Minister Greg Hunt said there has not been one death from influenza this year and only 408 cases diagnosed so far.
“In an average year, over the last five years, at this stage, we would have had 53,000 diagnosed flu cases and 157 lives lost,” Mr Hunt said.
In 2019 there were 430 deaths from influenza.
In the peak flu season last year there was a similar story, with COVID-19 being credited. From April to July, there were just 33 cases of influenza.
20 million shots of flu vaccine have been made available in Australia, with more than 9.4 million doses assigned to the National Immunisation Program, which has been offering a specific, enhanced flu vaccine to protect seniors.
Crikey, I haven’t bought a tissue box in years!
