While the threat of Covid has started to subside, leading health experts are warning Australians to be on guard for the upcoming flu season or the emergence of a more severe and infectious strain.
If either of these issues come to pass, it could lead to more hospitalisations for a health system already struggling to cope and some restrictions returning.
University of Epidemiologist Tony Blakely, in an article for The Conversation on Tuesday, said a new Covid strain could create further problems for society.
BA.2, a sub-variant of the original Omicron strain, is the form of Covid most Australians are primarily catching right now.
But Mr Blakely said greater restrictions, like more lockdowns, “are unlikely to be needed” to control it unless hospitalisations get out of hand.
His concern is if a more infectious or serious strain with immune escape (where vaccines or previous infection offer less protection) emerges.
“We’re lucky the variant that came along just as we were largely vaccinated and ready to open up to the world was Omicron with lower virulence. We may not be so lucky next time,” Mr Blakely said.
He said if this hypothetical new variant emerges, it could cause issues for society and health services once again, leading to restrictions like wearing masks indoors and working from home returning.
Mr Blakely’s advice to prepare for this is to stockpile masks, rapid antigen tests and get early access to next-generation vaccines.
But a new Covid strain is not the only threat health officials are worried about.
Covid restrictions have also helped prevent the flu from spreading in recent times, but the country is now preparing to deal with its first proper winter flu season in two years now those rules have ended.
Mater Health Services Director of infectious diseases Paul Griffin told 3AW on Tuesday Australians are “very susceptible to the flu right now” due to low vaccine rates and society opening up.
Royal Australasian College of Surgeons NSW chair Payal Mukherjee told the Sydney Morning Herald on Wednesday a surge in flu cases would only add to the pressure they are already under right now with Covid hospitalisations.
“I would be surprised if we can get through the waitlists in two years … we will have to be working at more than 100 per cent of pre-Covid levels,” Dr Mukherjee said.
“It will get only get harder with hospital bed (shortages) if flu cases go up. It’s not just the public hospitals – private hospitals are saying they don’t have the beds and staff are furloughed.”
Australian chief medical officer Paul Kelly said on Wednesday national cabinet has developed an approach that “assumed the possibility of significant outbreaks of both Covid-19 and influenza”.
“Work is well under way in all states and territories, supported by the commonwealth, to prepare our healthcare systems for the likely cocirculation of Covid-19 and influenza,” Professor Kelly said.
Vulnxjmtzywerable Australians are also now eligible for their free flu vaccination under the National Immunisation Program
