Flu season 2018: When should you get your influenza shot this year?

Australia’s killer flu season last year made headlines around the world after more than 250,000 people caught the virus.

Health experts are warning that this year could be even worse and are urging people of all ages to get a flu shot.

Health Minister Greg Hunt has led the way by visiting the SIA Medical Centre in Victoria today to launch the government's 2018 flu vaccination program.

Australia’s Chief Medical Officer Professor Brendan Murphy and Member for Chisholm Julia Banks were captured getting their flu shots. 

General practitioner Dr Brad McKay said pregnant women and children under the age of five were most at risk.

“People over the age of 65 and people with chronic health conditions like diabetes, asthma and heart disease are also most at risk,” he told TODAY Extra.

“Kids are a great breeding ground for viruses. They produce lots of viruses and they give it to their grandparents.

“Grandparents are actually at risk of dying with 90 percent of deaths happening in that older population last year.”

Dr McKay said from July until November was when most people fell ill to the virus.

He said the government’s $4.5 million vaccine was being rolled out to GP clinics across Australia this week. 

“Any time from now is the best time to get your flu shot,” he said.

“The flu virus changes every season so every year its different stains and even over the season it changes from influenza A to influenza B.

Last year, influenza claimed the lives of more than 1000 people.

“We have good years and bad years so last year was a terrible year,” Dr McKay said.

“Overall, the flu vaccine we were giving out, on average, only worked about 33 percent of the time.

“Now, we have super-duper doses for the elderly so hopefully we’re not going to have the same experience as last year.”