An estimated 3,000 Australians die each year either directly from the seasonal flu, complications due to the flu or Pneumonia and with peek flu season still four to seven weeks away people can still get a flu shot simply by dropping into a local pharmacy.

Amcal Pharmacist David Hamblin said all the pharmacists at the Hamblin’s Amcal are accredited so waiting time should be kept to a minimum.

“It’s giving people in their busy life styles that might be just walking past the pharmacy at lunch time to actually get a flu shot, they come in and get a shot and within 10 minutes they’re walking out having had their flu shot,” he said.

“It just makes it much easier and we have noticed a really big up take, people just turning up…. If we can get up to 90 per cent of people vaccinated the virus cannot take hold in a community, because there are too many people vaccinated so it’s got no way to actually start to colonise in the community.

“People who are unwell with the flu, their immune system is so busy fighting the flu they can actually get second infections on top of the flu. There can be fatalities for those at risk people who get the flu, so we have to try and get those fit and healthy people to get vaccinated so they aren’t infected.”

MLHD Director Public Health Tracey Oakman said the influenza vaccine is recommended for everyone from six months of age who wish to reduce the likelihood of becoming ill with influenza.

“While numbers of people with influenza are currently low, there have been indications the flu season has begun and we can expect to see a peak in influenza cases in four to seven weeks,” she said.

“I encourage everyone who hasn’t had the influenza vaccine this year, to consider getting the vaccine in the next week or so, because it is the most effective way to prevent the spread of flu in the community.”

Under the National Immunisation Program, the flu shot is available free for some people, including: