Yvette D’Ath to seek free, subsidised flu shots for more Australians

The worst flu season in a decade is set to add pressure to Queensland’s struggling health system, with Yvette D’Ath asking the federal government to subsidise or make flu shots free for more Australians.

Health Minister Yvette D’Ath will ask the federal government to subsidise or make flu shots free for more Australians this winter as she warns the worst flu season in a decade is “coming at us quickly”.

Ms D’Ath laid out a plethora of issues feeding the unprecedented demand on Queensland hospitals, from a lack of Commonwealth funding, GPs turning away patients with respiratory symptoms, unaffordable private health, underfunding of aged and disability care, a lack of health staff, an influx of influenza cases and the continuation of the Covid pandemic.

Yvette D'Arth

And the situation would only get worse as a dominant influenza A strain circulated – which could make even young adults very ill – with cases doubling each week.

Queensland Health chief operating officer Dr David Rosengren said the pressures were not “anyone’s problems”, but were “everyone’s problem”.

“And so when I say it’s everyone’s problem, then we need to encourage the community to go out and get your flu vaccination, go out and get your Covid vaccination,” he said.

“Don’t contribute to the burden of demand in our emergency departments by finding yourself in the back of an ambulance being transported to the hospital because you haven’t found the time or the effort to get the flu vaccination.”

Dr Rosengren fronted the press conference to reassure Queenslanders they should still access emergency departments if needed despite how busy things were.

“We are facing some impending further challenges which will create some difficulties and we can’t back away from that,” he said.

Queensland Health chief operating officer Dr David Rosengren. File picture

“In the past couple of weeks we have seen a concerning surge in the number of influenza cases reported across the state.

“And we’ve, in particular, seen a surge in the hospitalisation requirements including intensive case admissions with people with influenza.

“And we have to appreciate that that has added to the burden of our coronavirus demands and that really does challenge our ability to continue to ensure that we can maintain access.”

Ms D’Ath said she would write to the federal government asking for more money to fund influenza shots.

She said she did not want people already struggling with cost-of-living pressures avoiding a flu shot because of the cost.

Asked about criticisms GPs are turning away patients with respiratory illnesses, she said they should not be doing that.