Australians are warned to get their children vaccinated for the flu ahead of winter, as new data shows only 1 in 10 children have had their jab.
Royal Children's Hospital pediatrician Dr Anthea Rhodes said more than 40,000 cases have already been recorded this year, with the most affected age group children between 0 and 14.
"The flu season is well and truly here," she told Weekend Today.
Rhodes said new data released today also found 1 in 5 parents aren't planning to vaccinate their kids at all.
"For many of those parents, there are still miss beliefs and confusion about the flu vaccine," she said.
"We need to remind people that flu is serious, particularly in young children.
"It's more fatiguing to face a dose of influenza and all the flow-on effects for the child and everyone in your home than it is to have another vaccine."
There is also misinformation spreading online, Rhodes said.
"We have a number of parents who believe you can catch the flu from the flu vaccine," she said.
"The flu vaccine is not a live vaccine. There is no way you can catch the flu from the flu vaccine."
"About 70 per cent of parents also didn't know that they need a new flu vaccine every year. Even if you or your child had a vaccine last year, it will no longer be protecting you."
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<img src="https://www.mtlblog.com/media-library/a-quebec-flag-right-canadian-money-illustrative.jpg?id=54999467&width=1200&height=800&coordinates=96%2C0%2C96%2C0"/><br/><br/><p> If you've ever wondered how your paycheque compares to the rest of Canada, you're not alone. Between <a href="https://www.mtlblog.com/montreal-rent-rising-as-canadian-rent-drops" target="_blank" rel="noopener">rising rent prices</a> and grocery bills that seem to grow by the week, knowing where Quebec stands in terms of earnings is more relevant than ever.
</p><p> Plus, if you're in Montreal, figuring out how the average <a href="https://www.mtlblog.com/housing-market-montreal-average-rent-november-2024" target="_blank" rel="noopener">salary in Quebec</a> stacks up can be a great way to gauge if your pay is keeping up with the city's vibe — or its <a href="https://www.mtlblog.com/tag/cost-of-living" target="_blank" rel="noopener">cost of living</a>.
</p><p> So, how does Quebec measure up when it comes to average pay? Statistics Canada just dropped its latest data revealing the average Canadian salary by province, and let's just say, the numbers might surprise you.
</p><p> Nationwide, the average weekly earnings in September 2024 (the most recent data available) hit $1,280.28, which works out to about $66,575 annually. </p><p>But Quebec lags behind the national average, with weekly earnings averaging $1,228.15 — or around $63,864 a year.
</p><p>It's not all bad news, though. Quebec's average salary has seen a steady rise each month since December 2023, and it's up 4.7% over the last year. Meanwhile, <a href="https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/daily-quotidien/241015/dq241015a-eng.htm" target="_blank" rel="noopener">inflation</a> rose only 1.6% year over year in that same period — meaning Quebecers are actually seeing more real purchasing power with their paycheques.
</p><p> Here's the full breakdown of each province and territory's <a href="https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/daily-quotidien/241128/dq241128b-eng.htm" target="_blank" rel="noopener">average weekly wages as of September 2024</a> (and their yearly equivalent):
</p><ol>
<li>Nunavut: $1,751.75 ($91,091/year)</li>
<li>Northwest Territories: $1,701.28 ($88,467/year)</li>
<li>Yukon: $1,450.08 ($75,404/year)</li>
<li>Alberta: $1,353.72 ($70,393/year)</li>
<li>Ontario: $1,316.32 ($68,449/year)</li>
<li>British Columbia: $1,286.83 ($66,915/year)<br/>
<strong>National average: $1,280.28 ($66,575/year)</strong></li>
<li>Newfoundland and Labrador: $1,244.55 ($64,717/year)</li>
<li>Saskatchewan: $1,229.70 ($63,944/year)</li>
<li><strong>Quebec: $1,228.15 ($63,864/year)</strong></li>
<li>Manitoba: $1,154.20 ($60,018/year)</li>
<li>New Brunswick: $1,148.59 ($59,727/year)</li>
<li>Nova Scotia: $1,128.25 ($58,669/year)</li>
<li>Prince Edward Island: $1,091.68 ($56,767/year)</li>
</ol><p>Nunavut leads the pack thanks to its smaller population and higher cost of living, which typically boosts wages (incidentally, the territory also has the highest minimum wage in Canada). Alberta also shines with its strong oil and gas industry helping push earnings up. </p><p>Quebec's wages, meanwhile, sit just slightly above Manitoba and below Saskatchewan — showing we're holding our own but still have some catching up to do.
</p><p>So, is Quebec a paradise for aspiring millionaires? Not quite. But while we might earn less on average compared to places like Ontario or Alberta, it's worth remembering Quebec's overall cost of living tends to be lower. That means your money might stretch further here, especially in cities like <a href="https://www.mtlblog.com/cities-in-quebec-canada-best-affordable-places-to-live" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Quebec City</a> or <a href="https://www.mtlblog.com/canada-cheapest-city-for-renters-riverside-montreal" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Trois-Rivières</a>.</p><p>In fact, a <a href="https://www.mtlblog.com/how-much-you-need-to-earn-to-live-comfortably-in-quebec-2024" target="_blank" rel="noopener">report from the Institut de recherche et d'informations socioéconomiques (IRIS)</a> suggests that a single person in Quebec would need to earn between $30,738 and $43,609 to live comfortably in 2024, while a family of four would require an income between $72,788 and $86,585.</p><p>With those numbers in mind, Quebec's average salary is starting to look pretty solid after all.</p><p><em>Love this? Check out our <a href="https://www.mtlblog.com/notices/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">MTL Blog noticeboard</a> for details on jobs, benefits, travel info and more!</em></p><p><em>AI tools may have been used to support the creation or distribution of this content; however, it has been carefully edited and fact-checked by a member of MTL Blog's Editorial team. For more information on our use of AI, please visit our <a href="https://www.mtlblog.com/editorial-standards" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Editorial Standards page</a>.</em></p>
