Chris Spyrou

The science is a lot more nuanced than the messaging lets on.

And that's something my guest today wants more of us to know before we book ourselves in for that annual shot.

Peter Colin Young is a professor in infectious disease at the ANU Medical School.

He's a physician and a microbiologist who's also worked with the World Health Organization as a government advisor.

And he joins me now.

Professor, welcome to the briefing.

Before we get into the flu jab, can we start with some of the basics?

How does the flu actually spread?

How does one know that they've got the flu without doing a test?

Because we were talking off camera about it.

I'm uncertain if I've had the flu this year, if I've just had a common cold.

Like, how can you generally tell?

Oh, and that chicken soup is really good if you can get your hands on it.

And now I do want to know, given the picture you've just painted there, why do you think there is such a focus on getting us vaccinated against the flu?

If you don't have those underlying things, should you be getting it every year when it's made available?

Have you noticed anecdotally a shift in how people are feeling towards vaccines?

vaccines or at least discussing vaccines with you.

I know during the pandemic, there was a lot of interest in terms of ingredients and what was involved in a vaccine and what goes into a vaccine.

Are you noticing people on the ground, patients or even students of yours who are taking a keener interest to know more about what we're taking and what's in jabs and things like that?

Now, before we let you go, for anyone listening who might be experiencing the flu or symptoms that may or may not be the flu or will get sick this flu season, what's the best advice?