Get your flu vaccine now

Aussies warned as risk season kicks off early

The official start to flu season is still more than a month away, but experts are urging all Australians to roll up their sleeves and get vaccinated now.

The number of flu cases has been rising steadily around the country in recent weeks, pointing to an early start to the season, which typically begins in mid-May.

Combined with low vaccination rates, this could lead to a tough few months.

While reporting for 2024 flu vaccination rates has not yet started, figures from the National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance Australia show that in 2023, just 28 per cent of children aged from 6 months to 5 years received a vaccine. That number was even lower (16 per cent) for the 5-15 years age group, followed by 22 per cent for the 15-50 years age group, 37 per cent for the 50-65 years age group and 63 per cent for those aged 65 years and older.

According to the National Notifiable Disease Surveillance System, there were 32,485 cases of laboratory-confirmed flu across Australia as of April 7. This is a massive increase on the number of cases reported during the first quarter of 2023 (18,584).

Australian Medical Association president Steve Robson told ABC Radio that flu season was generally regarded as a winter illness, but in recent years it had begun earlier.

“So I think it makes perfect sense that everybody starts to attune to that really now and start to prep for the flu season,” he said.

Steve Robson

AMA president

He stressed the importance of understanding that flu vaccination was simple.

“It is safe, it’s very effective, and it’s something that can protect the whole community at a time of great threat and great risk to a lot of vulnerable Australians,” he said.

NSW has recorded the most cases (13,153) so far this year, followed by Queensland (9015), Victoria (5649), South Australia (1852), Western Australia (1832) the ACT (424), Northern Territory (301), and Tasmania (259).

Last year was worst on record for reported flu case numbers (288,992) since 2019, when there were 313,647 cases notified.

Despite the fact that they are in the top 3 for flu cases, NSW and Victoria are yet to follow the lead of Western Australia and Queensland and offer all residents free vaccination for anyone in those states who cannot receive it for free under the National Immunisation Program (NIP).

In Queensland, the free program will run from April to September and will be available to all residents of the state aged six months and older.

In a typical year, flu is estimated to be responsible for 1.5 million lost workdays, more than 300,000 GP visits, and about 18,000 hospitalisations.

The Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) has provided a statement on the administration of seasonal influenza vaccines in 2024.

“Influenza vaccines can be co-administered (given on the same day) with any Covid-19 vaccine and other vaccines,” the statement said.

“While protection is generally expected to last throughout the year, the highest level of protection occurs in the first three to four months after vaccination,” it said.

It is safe, it’s very effective, and it’s something that can protect the whole community at a time of great threat and great risk to a lot of vulnerable Australians