Health authorities are urging people to get vaccinated as the influenza death toll continues to rise around Australia.

In the last 24 hours, the death toll in NSW has risen to 70, while Queensland sits at 51.

That brings the national death toll to more than 300, compared to 125 in 2018.

But President of the Australian Medical Association Dr Tony Bartone tells Natalie Peters and Edwina Bartholomew it’s important to keep things in perspective.

“It actually isn’t as severe a bout of influenza that is circulating as in previous years, compared to the rate of hospitalisations.

“It is nasty, it is a very serious illness, we do need to take heed and do need to ensure our vaccination is up to speed. But let’s put it into context… if we look at 2017 the rate of notifications in the last few weeks has actually started to slow down.”

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