Doctors and medical professionals are urging everyone to have their flu shot before the start of the flu season. 

The Australian Medical Association (AMA) warned that people are in for a horror flu season if immunisation rates don't pick up.

The southern hemisphere bases its predictions for the flu season on what happened in the northern hemisphere. 

“Countries like the United States had a very severe influenza season, with the Centre for Disease Control estimating at least 41 million illnesses, 540,000 hospitalisations, and 23,000 deaths from influenza during their season so far,“ Dr McMullen said.

In the Western NSW Local Health District (WNSWLHD) and Far West LHD, influenza notifications have so far only slightly increased compared to the year prior. 

In the WNSWLHD, there have been 323 influenza notifications, and in the Far West LHD, 20 notifications this year between January and March. 

In the same timeframe last year there were 161 notifications in the WNSWLHD and in the Far West LHD 17.

Experts say there are a number of factors that contribute to the sinking vaccination rates. 

“We know there’s some vaccine fatigue out there following the pandemic, and some wildly misleading and damaging information on social media, and this is contributing to fewer people getting their shots,” AMA President Dr Danielle McMullen said.

Last year, NSW had the second lowest vaccination rates for people aged 65 and older and for people aged 50 to 65, according to the National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance (NCIRS). 

"Anyone who has a compromised immune system is at risk of getting sick pretty quickly if they were to get influenza," Dr Martin said.

A further challenge for rural areas is having enough qualified staff on hand to administer the shot, the President of the Australian College of Rural and Remote, Dr Rod Martin, said. 

"The supply is there. You need to have the structures to be able to deliver the vaccines," Dr Martin said.

"In locations where there isn't a doctor, hopefully there is a vaccination-certified nurse."

Since 2020 trained pharmacists have been allowed to administer influenza vaccines to patients aged ten and up.

Dr Martin, who is based in Armidale, said personally, he has seen an increase in the number of people getting their flu shots at the pharmacy. 

"Having that co-ordination is important. There's some structures there for it but it's not complete yet." 

 ACRRM President Dr Rod Martin. Photo: ACRRM

He says he best time for elderly people and people with a weak immune system to get the flu shot is in April and May.

Young people on the other hand can get vaccinated throughout the year. 

"People with a normal immune system and lung function can get it pretty much any time because your body is going to do a good job of remembering the vaccine," Dr Martin said. 

Dr Martin reminded everyone that getting the Covid vaccine is still important too. 

"Keep on getting your Covid vaccines as well. There's a new Covid strain that came out probably six weeks ago. We can give Covid and flu shots at the same time."