Fentiman pushing for flu-jabs in Queensland schools amid flunami

Every child in Queensland would be able to get the flu jab at school under an ambitious proposal by the State Government.

Every child in Queensland would be able to get the flu jab at school under an ambitious proposal by the State Government after a worrying spike of influenza hospitalisations.

Health Minister Shannon Fentiman has called on the Federal Government to expand the National Immunisation Program to include influenza shots for school students.

It comes as acting chief health officer Catherine McDougall sent letters to Queensland schools this week warning parents of soaring hospitalisations and the vital need for their children to be protected.

More than 80 per cent of the flu cases in the state’s hospitals are unvaccinated.

A spokesman for health minister Shannon Fentiman’s office told The Courier- Mail that while vaccination is the responsibility of the federal government, the Queensland government has funded free flu vaccines for all Queenslanders for the past two years at a cost of $47m to date.

“The Queensland government will continue to lobby for influenza to be added to the National Immunisation Program, which could then be added to the School Immunisation Program.

Queenslanders can receive their free flu vaccine through their local GP, community pharmacist, or local government community vaccination clinic,” he said.

And the Australian Medical Association Queensland said it made perfect sense to add influenza to the School Immunisation Program to make the accessibility of the vaccine easier by administering when children are at school.

Health Minister Shannon Fentiman this week. Picture: Richard Walker

Uptake of the free influenza jab in the state is only 28 per cent.

As part of the School Immunisation Program Year 7 pupils get the human papillomavirus, diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis and Year 10 have access to meningococcal protection.

Last week there were 1521 confirmed new cases of flu in school aged children, 630 cases in preschool-aged children and 644 cases in over 65 years Queenslanders.

For the first time there are more patients in hospitals with influenza putting severe pressure on the health system.

Last Sunday there were 257 Queenslanders in hospital with influenza, five more than those with Covid-19.

“We support investment in the school programs already in place and proven to improve the health of young people, like the GPs in Schools program. It makes sense to have those GPs already visiting schools administer flu jabs to students,” AMAQ president Nick Yim said.

“Our hospitals are already under pressure and it’s vital to keep as many people out of emergency departments and hospital beds as possible,” he said.

Peak flu season looks set to peak mid August.

Influenza can be more serious in children with chronic medical conditions like chronic respiratory conditions (including asthma), chronic heart disease, chronic neurological or metabolic conditions, chronic kidney or liver problems and diabetes mellitus.