Free flu vax back again this year amid fears of horror QLD season

Queenslanders are being urged to get over their “vaccine fatigue’’ and take up an offer of free jabs, amid predictions of a horror 2025 flu season.

Queenslanders have been urged to get over their “vaccine fatigue’’ and take up an offer of free jabs amid predictions of an early horror flu season.

Health Minister Tim Nicholls announced on Saturday free influenza vaccinations would be available for anyone aged over six months, from March 1 until September 1.

He said there had been a worrying drop in the number of people taking advantage of free flu vaccinations over the past three seasons.

“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,’’ he said.

The good news came after Mr Nicholls refused late last year to commit to continuing the scheme, saying he wanted time to consider its efficacy.

Health Minister Tim Nicholls (left) and Acting Premier Jarrod Bleijie announce the free flu jab program at Wholelife Pharmacy in West End. Picture: John Gass

Former Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk introduced the free shots in 2022 as the state was coming out of Covid-19 lockdown.

Only Queensland residents, including those without a Medicare card, can access the state-funded scheme.

Pharmacy Guild of Australia state president, Chris Owen, said the early notice would give the public and pharmacists plenty of time to plan ahead.

He urged people to take up the offer, even if only as protection for elderly, very young or sick relatives and friends.

“Higher vaccination rates also means fewer hospitalisations due to influenza,” he said.

“This means hospital beds can be freed up for more urgent needs.”

The Federal Government last year introduced free jabs for children aged up to five and older people aged over 65.

“The highest influenza-related hospitalisation rates occur in older Queenslanders over 65 and young children under five,” Mr Nicholls said.

“While Queenslanders in these age groups are already eligible for flu vaccination under the Commonwealth’s National Immunisation Program, extending free flu vaccination for all Queenslanders should improve uptake and support the broader health system through avoidable hospitalisations.’’

In November, Australian Medical Association Queensland president Nick Yim called on the new LNP state government to commit to free vaccinations.

He said there had been more than 80,000 cases of the flu last year and said the virus had the potential to put a lot of pressure on the healthcare system.

“It is really important that (in 2025) our community, our state, continues to have these free flu immunisations,” he said.

Last year about 32 per cent of Queensland’s population, or 1.75m people, received a flu jab.

That was down from 1.84m in 2023 and down from 2.12m, or 36 per cent of the population, two years ago.

A combined Covid-19 and flu vaccine is being trialled in Queensland but has yet to be approved by the Therapeutic Goods Administration.

It is likely to be free, or subsidised, only for high-risk groups such as indigenous people or the elderly.