A top doctor has called for the return of a dreaded health measure and for everyone to roll up their sleeves again amid a renewed surge in Covid-19 and influenza.
Authorities have warned of a looming triple threat – Covid, the flu season and health workers calling in sick because they’ve contracted one of the two with hospital systems already at breaking point days out from winter.
Victoria and NSW could follow Queensland in offering free flu shots to everyone with millions of Australians eligible for a fourth Covid vaccine from next week.
Sydney GP Kean Seng Lim echoed calls for the return of face masks as he issued a grim warning about the months ahead.
There are growing calls for the return of mask wearing amid fears of a horror winter ahead
‘I think we have a big problem coming,’ he told the Today show on Thursday.
‘You have got the Covid and influenza viruses both coming on together.
‘We do see them happening more during these winter months as people cluster closer together.
‘We also have the problem where we are going to have fewer staff. It isn’t just because staff are off, because they themselves are sick, but also because their kids and grandkids are sick at schools and or schools are reducing because teachers are sick and so forth and so forth because everything interconnects.’
Australian Medical Association recently announced it would welcome a move to reinstate ‘moderate, but sensible’ masks mandates in public indoor settings.
Dr Lim also expressed concern about the high number of patients reluctant to get Covid boosters and a flu shot.
Australia’s peak vaccine advisory group has announced a further 1.5million Aussies are now eligible to get a fourth dose of a Covid-19 vaccine from May 30 as a winter precaution.
Dr Lim fears believe a lot of urgency has been lost.
Sydney GP Kean Seng Lim fears the health system will face a big problem in the months ahead
‘We forget we’re still in the middle of a huge epidemic and vaccines are one of our best first line protections,’ Dr Lim said.
‘Once the message is out there, then that starts the ball rolling and we’ve got to get the message out there.
‘Both Covid and influenza are serious illnesses that you can be vaccinated against.
‘They are passed the same way – coughing and sneezing.
‘We should have going back to wear masks as well.’
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will be briefed on Australia’s ongoing fight against pandemic, regarded as a top priority for his newly-elected government.
Dr Lim also fears about the high level of reluctance to get Covid boosters and flu shots
He has instructed health officials to prepare a briefing on COVID-19, as one of his first domestic agenda issues to tackle following his return of Japan on Wednesday.
Interim Health Minister Katy Gallagher said there were no supply issues for the vaccines going forward.
‘The reason why it has not been expanded more across the general population is based on evidence,’ Senator Gallagher said.
‘We have accepted the ATAGI advice in full, but the benefits of having a fourth dose for everybody are not ATAGI’s view at the moment.’
Airports and public transports are among the few places where face masks rules remain
