With flu season quickly approaching, NSW Health are among medical groups recommending influenza vaccinations, for anyone aged over six months of age.

After low incidences of flu in 2020 and 2021 due to covid induced lockdowns, social distancing and a focus on sanitizing everything from hands to counter tops, last year's national flu numbers were higher but still considered low on average.

Now, some say there are signs that 2023 may see flu cases flourish.

In 2022, there were 225,332 notifications of confirmed influenza and 308 flu associated deaths across Australia. New South Wales had the second highest infection rates in the country with 1,387 people per 100,000 population contracting the flu.

According to NSW Health, the 2022 flu season started early and was shorter than average.

What will happen this year is anybody's guess but, even at this early stage, Colin Best, owner and pharmacist at Trangie Pharmacy has had people coming in to his business for immunisations for both influenza and also Covid boosters. Currently, he said he is immunising people aged over 18.

"We definitely saw less flu cases during Covid but last year was challenging in regard to flu, particularly as we ran out of immunisation stocks and were unable to get more until later in the season," Mr Best said.

Mr Best, moved to Trangie from Brisbane two years ago and said he loves the town.

"I wanted to move to a rural community," he said. "So when this business came up, I decided to make the move and I'm glad I did. The community here is great."

Trangie Pharmacy, like others around the region, are already gearing up for the flu season.

Mr Best said, along with the flu immunisation, it is important to get a covid booster.

"There is an updated covid vaccination which offers better protection against the newest variant," he said. "I am more than happy to chat with people about what they might need."

Free seasonal influenza vaccine is funded under the National Immunisation Program (NIP) for the following groups at higher risk of complications from influenza:

• all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 6 months and over

• all children aged 6 months to less than 5 years of age

• all individuals aged 5 years and over with medical risk conditions, namely: cardiac disease, including cyanotic congenital heart disease, coronary artery disease and congestive heart failure chronic respiratory conditions, including suppurative lung disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), severe asthma (for which frequent medical consultations or the use of multiple medications is required), cystic fibrosis, bronchiectasis and chronic emphysemachronic neurological conditions, including hereditary and degenerative central nervous system (CNS) diseases (including multiple sclerosis), neuromuscular disorders, spinal cord injuries and seizure disorders, immunocompromising conditions, including immunocompromised due to disease or treatment (e.g. malignancy, transplantation and/or chronic steroid use), asplenia or splenic dysfunction and HIV infection, diabetes and other metabolic disorders, including Type 1 diabetes, Type 2 diabetes and chronic metabolic disorders, chronic renal failure, haemoglobinopathies and children aged 6 months to 10 years on long term aspirin therapy

• pregnant women (influenza vaccine can be given at any stage of pregnancy)

• people aged 65 years and over (a vaccine that is specifically designed to produce a higher immune response is available for this group)

"Thankfully we have had no issues with vaccine stock so far," Mr Best said. "And while its early in the season, now is a good time to get immunized before the cold weather sets in and the flu season peaks."

If you have flu symptoms, or have been diagnosed with flu, it is important to stay home and avoid contact with others until your symptoms have gone.

Trangie Pharmacy is just one of many health outlets across the Western Plains where flu and covid vaccines can be accessed.