Blue Mountains residents are being urged to get vaccinated for the flu after 10,000 cases in NSW this year already - before the peak winter season has even started - an almost three-fold increase on last year.
In the Blue Mountains there have been 100 reports of the flu this year, double what was reported last year.
A spokesman for the Nepean Blue Mountains Local Health District said more than 7500 Blue Mountains residents had been vaccinated this year, with one million flu vaccines delivered across the state.
Nepean Blue Mountains Local Health District director of public health, Associate Professor Bradley Forssman, said free flu vaccinations are available to many people in the community.
The free vaccine is available to pregnant women, Aboriginal people, those aged over 65, children aged 6 months to 5 years, and anyone with medical conditions such as asthma, diabetes, and heart disease.
"Getting a yearly flu shot is one of the best ways to protect yourself from the flu," Assoc Prof Forssman said.
People are encouraged to contact their GP or local pharmacist to talk about getting their flu shot.
Other ways to help stop the spread of colds and flu are to stay home from work or school when unwell, avoid visiting elderly relatives when you're sick, washing your hands regularly, using tissues and sneezing into your elbow not your hands.
Hospitalisation rates for the flu are highest in young children, with recent national figures showing about 100 per 100,000 in those aged six to 23 months.
Experts are urging people not to take the flu for granted as a common winter disease, as it can be deadly. In 2017, more than 650 people died across the state.
Getting vaccinated now allows protection during the peak flu transmission period, from around June to September.
