Aussies are being warned of a contagious flu variant after twice as many people than expected died from the virus at the start of the year.
The Subclade K variant, known as Super-K, has been circulating around the country since September, with last year's flu vaccine ineffective against it.
Mater director of infectious diseases Paul Griffin revealed the start of the year had been devastating for dozens of families.
'In January, more than 60 people died from flu in Australia, which is around double the number we would normally see during that month,' he told The Courier Mail.
'This is largely due to the Super-K variant, which is easily transmitted, and also due to low vaccination rates.'
More than 220,000 Australians have caught the flu this year, with 7,295 reported in Queensland.
The flu vaccine has since been updated to combat the Super K strain, with Aussies urged to get the jab as soon as possible, with children and pregnant women among the group singled out to visit their GP.
'Elderly people and anyone with a compromised immune system should absolutely get the flu injection,' professor Griffin said.
Aussies are being warned of a contagious flu variant that has largely contributed to twice as many deaths in the country in January than usual
'It's definitely safe and we know they're at higher risk of more severe disease from the flu.'
In Queensland, flu jabs are free from local GPs or pharmacies for anyone aged six months and older.
There is also a new needle-free flu vaccine for those aged between two and five.
'It's an intranasal vaccine - a little spray of fluid into each nostril - that will provide young children with excellent protection against the flu,' professor Griffin said.
'Children six months of age and upwards are recommended to get the flu vaccine every year and pregnant mothers should also get vaccinated to protect them and their unborn babies.'
The flu season normally begins in April as the weather becomes cooler, before ramping up through the winter.
'If you get vaccinated now or early April, you should have excellent protection during the peak of the flu season which is usually the latter half of winter here in Queensland,' professor Griffin said.
He said a Covid booster was a great idea as well.
With more than 22,000 flu cases reported nationally so far this year, Paul Griffin, the director of infectious diseases at Mater, a Queensland network of public and private hospitals and healthcare services, said it was vital the latest vaccines worked.
'It is safe to have a Covid and flu vaccine at the same time and, for older adults, I would also recommend getting an RSV vaccine,' he said.
'That way you can be protected against the more serious respiratory viruses that are likely to be circulating at the same time.'