strategic viewpoint on IVC, page-224

The Federal Government's Department of Health says this about Australian influenza levels in 2021 thus far (bearing in mind given it's early August, we are nearing the end of the 'winter flu season') - it suggests though being cautious interpreting the data due to COVID-19:

(on balance, not good for IVC or competitors):

Severity

• There is no indication of the potential severity of the 2021 season at this time.
• In the year to date, of the 435 notifications of laboratory-confirmed influenza, no influenza-associated deaths have been notified to the NNDSS.
• There have been no hospital admissions due to influenza reported across sentinel hospitals sites since commencement of surveillance in April 2021.

Impact

• Given the low number of laboratory-confirmed influenza notifications, low community ILI activity, and no hospitalisations due to influenza at sentinel hospital sites, it is likely there is minimal impact on society due to influenza in 2021 to date.