Call for ‘long-term’ action after Queensland revealed to have highest flu infection rate in country

With Queensland recording almost a third of influenza cases nationally, doctors say a range of critical measures are needed to stop more from falling sick.

Queensland has the highest rate of people falling ill with the flu in the country new data has revealed, as the state’s doctors call for a “long-term” jab fix and an immediate communication blitz to warn people of the dangers of the horror season.

It comes as Health Minister Shannon Fentiman assured “nothing is off the table” as the government prepares to meet with health leaders on Monday in a bid to get Queenslanders protected against the virus.

The latest Australian Influenza Surveillance Report, released by the federal health department, revealed Queensland — at 896 per 100,000 people — had the highest flu infection rate in the country followed by the Northern Territory at 691 infections per 100,000 people.

Queensland has had 47,670 lab-confirmed flu cases so far this year up to July 9 — representing nearly a third of cases nationally.

At least 55 Queenslanders have already lost their life to the flu this season. At the same time during the horror 2019 flu season, at least 51 people were dead.

The flu in recent days claimed the life of 11-year-old Sunshine Coast girl Emma Schwab.

Vaccination rates including among children under five who get the jab free are low, with medical experts including the Australian Medical Association of Queensland (AMAQ) and the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) calling on authorities to do more.

Health Hub Doctors Morayfield Dr Evan Jones said his respiratory clinic was fully booked each day, with 120 to 150 ill patients — particularly children — flowing through each day.

Noosa schoolgirl Emma Schwab (right), who died from influenza this week, with her mother Javiera (right). Picture: Facebook

And amid growing calls for the state government to make the flu jab free again as it did last year, Mr Jones said it was time for a “long-term” plan on how to get the vaccine to as many people as possible each year.

“I think the government does need to have a big cost-benefit-analysis about whether it’s just better to vaccinate a larger proportion of the population and have less hospitalisations and Illness in the community hurting productivity,” he said.

RACGP vice-president and Queensland GP Dr Bruce Willett said he “100 per cent” agreed, with AMAQ president Dr Maria Boulton also supporting a long-term plan jab access plan.

She said this will likely require the involvement of the federal government under the National Immunisation Program.

Experts are also calling for a major messaging campaign by Queensland Health and others to get the message of the dangers of the flu across.

Ms Fentiman said jab fatigue had been a hurdle this flu season, but affirmed the government would “look at everything we can” to get more people vaccinated.

She signalled this would include removing “cost barriers” and discussions with education Minister Grace Grace and the school system on how to better spruik the jab.