Queensland’s free flu vaccination program will be extended for another season, in a bid to reduce pressure on the state’s hospital emergency departments.
State Health Minister Tim Nicholls said a free influenza vaccine would be available between March 1 and September 1 for all Queenslanders over the age of six months.
Minister Nicholls said the program was one way to reduce pressure on Queensland hospital emergency departments and the broader healthcare system.
“The highest influenza-related hospitalisation rates occur in older Queenslanders over 65 and young children under five,” he said.
“While Queenslanders in these age groups are already eligible for flu vaccination under the Commonwealth’s National Immunisation Program (NIP), extending free flu vaccination for all Queenslanders should improve uptake and support the broader health system through avoidable hospitalisations.”
Minister Nicholls said this was the case in 2022 when free flu jabs were first introduced, with an uptake of 36 percent of the total population, or 2,118,481 doses administered.
“However, the subsequent declines in uptake in 2023 (1,837,384 doses administered) and 2024 (1,752,512 doses administered) of free flu vaccinations is a concern.
“To provide context, Queenslanders uptake of flu vaccination in 2024, at 29 percent of total population, was similar to the uptake in New South Wales (28.8 percent) where free flu vaccinations for all were not provided in 2024.
“The decline in the numbers of Queenslanders getting the flu jab in 2023 and 2024 indicates vaccine fatigue and hesitancy may be impacting decisions more so than the cost.”
