By Juliano Oliveira
Queensland registered no new cases of COVID-19 overnight, has confirmed the State Government.
Currently, 966 of the 1,033 confirmed cases had recently travelled overseas or had close contact with a confirmed case, such as their partner or flatmate.
In a press conference, Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk affirmed that only 13 cases had been confirmed in the past week.
Flu vaccine
The Premier insisted on the importance of Queenslanders taking their flu shot this year to avoid the possibility of contracting COVID-19 and flu at the same time.
“Every year, we encourage Queenslanders to roll up their sleeves and protect themselves against the flu, and this year this is more important than ever,” Ms Palaszczuk said.
“Sadly, we know the flu can be deadly, and with the ongoing threat COVID-19 has on our communities, it is so important we do everything possible to reduce the risk of contracting both illnesses at the same time.”
Queensland’s Chief Health Officer Dr Jeannette Young said those not eligible for the free vaccine should still book an appointment with their GP, pharmacist immuniser, or as part of their workplace program (if available) to get vaccinated.
“Although the flu vaccine does not protect against COVID-19, it can reduce the severity and spread of influenza, which may make a person more susceptible to other respiratory illnesses like COVID-19,” Dr Young said.
Those eligible for the funded vaccine are:
- pregnant women during any stage of pregnancy
- persons 65 years of age or older
- children 6 months of age to less than 5 years
- Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander aged 6 months and older
- People six months of age or older who have certain medical conditions which increase the risk of influenza disease complications.