Bill Harvey: Relax, just a little pinprick

I am getting my flu jab and recommending everyone in practice does the same.

This is not just because I am getting old, I hasten to add. The warnings are coming thick and fast. In 2016, 90,861 Australians suffered from laboratory confirmed influenza, with many more cases going undiagnosed. These figures only represent the tip of the iceberg and figures for flu-related fatality in Australia for this year are expected to reach a record high. Australian medics are recommending the UK adopts their current strategy of promoting flu vaccination across the board, rather than just for those thought vulnerable. The argument here is the same as for many vaccinations, such as the MMR. Herd immunity is a good way of stopping disease transmission. Recently, the NHS has suggested that all its staff are vaccinated for the same reason.