Qld warned to brace for horror flu season as vaccination rates plunge

Queenslanders are being warned to prepare for a horror flu season, with cases already 24 per cent higher than the same time last year and children some of the hardest hit.

More than 700 of the stricken flu patients were children under five.

Queenslanders are being warned about a horror flu season ahead with cases already 24 per cent higher than the same time last year and three months before the usual spike begins.

An increase in people travelling following a severe season in the northern hemisphere and ongoing vaccine hesitancy are being blamed for the early surge in cases.

Queensland Health’s latest acute respiratory infection data shows 8988 flu notifications were recorded between January 1 and March 23, up from 7225 last year, with a majority of the cases Influenza A.

More than 700 of the stricken flu patients were children under five with 26 of those babies less than six months old.

More than 800 flu patients have been hospitalised, of which half were aged 65 and over.

Mater Health director of infectious diseases Professor Paul Griffin said it was hard to predict when the season could peak but early indications were it would be a “significant season”. The peak season is usually from June to September.

“It’s inevitable that we will bring some cases into our country during the northern hemisphere flu season, but it does seem to be more than we’d normally expect,” he said.

“I think people have, in some ways, a bit of an under appreciation for how significant the flu is.

“But also, I think, genuinely, a lot of people are just a little bit over talking about infections.

“What we need to combat this whole activity so far, and whatever that the season brings is to get those vaccination rates right up.”

Australian Medical Association President Dr Danielle McMullen this week said there had been a fall in the number of people receiving their flu vaccine, with less people in 2024 getting the jab compared to 2023 and 2022.

Australian Medical Association President Dr Danielle McMullen. Picture: Richard Walker

“We know there’s some vaccine fatigue out there following the pandemic, and some wildly misleading and damaging information on social media, and this is contributing to fewer people getting their shots,” Dr McMullen said.

“I can’t be too blunt about this: thousands of people die each year from respiratory disease.

“People should get their flu vaccine each year, as the formulation is updated annually to match circulating strains”

There has been a slight reprieve with other acute respiratory infections with 98 fewer RSV hospitalisations for babies under 6 months than the same time last year.

Covid-19 activity has also decreased in the last few weeks with 11,443 so far compared to 18,827 the same time last year.

But hospitalisations with Covid-19 have been higher than patients with influenza and RSV.

Flu and Covid-19 vaccinations are free for all eligible Queenslanders through government-funded programs, some providers may still charge a consultation fee.

The RSV vaccine is free under the National Immunisation Program for women at 28–36 weeks pregnant to protect their baby.

Originally published as Qld warned to brace for horror flu season as vaccination rates plunge