<h2>How variable are flu seasons?</h2>

<p>Flu seasons can vary from year to year, including how severe the season is, what strain of flu is present, when it starts and how long it lasts. Therefore, the risk of hospitalisation and death may vary significantly from year to year.</p>

<p>For example, the 2019 season was significantly worse than average, with 313,000 lab-confirmed cases and 953 deaths.<sup>2</sup> By comparison, 2018 was a mild year with about 48,000 cases and 57 confirmed deaths.<sup>3</sup></p>

<h2>How has the COVID-19 pandemic impacted the flu season in Australia?</h2>

<p>Public health measures such as social distancing, travel bans and additional hygiene are believed to have reduced the spread of flu during the COVID-19 pandemic, with a corresponding fall in the number of hospitalisations and deaths from flu. There were 37 lab-confirmed deaths from flu in 2020 and none reported during the winter of 2021.<sup>4,5</sup></p>

<h2>Will the reopening of borders cause a flu outbreak?</h2>

<p>The Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) says seasonal flu may start to re-emerge and circulate in Australia with the opening of international borders following the COVID-19 closures. In addition, greater population movement could lead to a resurgence of influenza activity outside of the usual flu season.</p>

<h2>How many people die from flu in Australia, and how significant is age?</h2>

<p>It is difficult to predict what will happen in the future, but history shows 2,316 confirmed flu-related deaths in Australia between 1997 and 2016. That’s an average of about 100 a year. These figures may be an underestimate as many people who die are not tested for flu. The reported deaths mainly occurred in people aged 65 and older, but 20% were among younger people.<sup>6</sup></p>

<h2>Ask your GP or pharmacist for advice</h2>

<p>Talk to your GP or pharmacist about flu vaccine choices and how you can protect yourself against the flu.</p>
