Prof Nicola Spurrier urges South Australians to have flu jabs as cases skyrocket, especially in young children

Flu cases are already six times higher in South Australia than last year – and young children are being hit the hardest.

South Australian children are leading influenza notifications as case numbers climb, prompting fresh pleas for people to get vaccinated.

SA Health figures show more than 407,000 South Australians have received influenza vaccinations this season – less than a quarter of the population – and authorities are urging more people to get the jab.

There were 244 flu cases in the week to May 9 alone, of the 2406 recorded this year.

There had been just 387 total at the same time last year and 12,083 for all of 2022.

That was the worst year since the 27,093 cases recorded in 2019, prior to the pandemic, in which numbers plummeted to just 40 cases in 2021 as international air travel halted, social distancing was enforced and hygiene measures were front-of-mind.

Nearly 200 boys and about 180 girls aged 0-4 have had flu this year already and the numbers are even higher in the 5-9 age group, about 240 boys and 190 girls.

Far more flu cases are being recorded in young children than any other age group. Picture: iStock

Chief public health officer Nicola Spurrier said the most important step people could take to protect themselves against the flu this winter was to get their annual flu vaccination.

“We are now well into the flu season so we strongly encourage people to get their influenza vaccine as soon as they can,” Prof Spurrier said.

“Our data shows that the highest notifications have been in young children and we urge parents of children less than five years of age to have their child vaccinated as soon as possible – remember it is completely free in this age group.

Chief public health officer Nicola Spurrier is urging South Australians to have a flu jab. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Naomi Jellicoe

“Influenza can lead to hospitalisations, with young children, the elderly, pregnant people and those who are immunocompromised being the most vulnerable to the virus.”

Funded influenza vaccine is available for all individuals eligible under the National Immunisation Program.

This includes all children six months to less than five years of age, everyone aged 65 years and over, all pregnant women in any trimester, all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged six months and over and all people six months of age or older with specific chronic medical conditions.

The South Australian government also provides free flu vaccines for people experiencing homelessness who are not otherwise eligible for a funded influenza vaccine under the program.