Flu vaccination is provided free for children with chronic illnesses, yet uptake is low prompting UNSW researchers to call for renewed efforts to get this message out to parents in order to keep affected children out of hospital.
Antimicrobial resistance is sometimes called an "epidemic" and some experts predict it will cause 10 million deaths by 2050, but new research puts it into perspective.
Early indications suggest we could be facing a severe flu season, which means people in at-risk groups should get vaccinated as soon as possible, writes Raina MacIntyre.
Face masks are a cheap, effective public health "frontline" against epidemics such as swine flu, UNSW infectious disease expert Professor Raina MacIntyre says.
Donning a mask boosts protection from respiratory illnesses such as influenza, UNSW research has found, but convincing a reluctant public is proving a struggle.
