Flu vaccine Adelaide: SA Premier considering making flu jabs free

The Premier says he is considering making flu jabs free for everyone in SA, like Queensland has done. Experts say we face our worst flu season in five years.

The Premier is considering making flu vaccinations free for all South Australians following calls from health experts.

On Wednesday morning Peter Malinauskas said making the flu jab free was something his government was looking in to following news Queensland had made the decision earlier this week.

“That’s something we’re turning our mind to, we have made sure that the flu jab is free for a range of other sources,” Mr Malinauskas told Mix 102.3.

He said flu jabs were free at vax vaccination hubs for people over 65.

Currently, in SA free vaccines are administered to people with chronic health conditions, children younger than five or over 65.

The announcement follows calls from a top epidemiologist and the SA Greens party to follow Queensland in making flu jabs free on Tuesday.

There are plans for NSW to soon follow in Queensland’s footsteps – and UniSA epidemiologist Professor Adrian Esterman said SA could be facing its worst flu season in five years.

“Potentially we’re in for a bad flu season in terms of case numbers and eventually hospital load, and to me, especially since we’ve still got Covid around, it makes an awful lot of sense for the government to offer free vaccine,” Prof Esterman said.

Vaccination healthcare concept - Hands of doctor or nurse hold a syringe and ampule preparing a shot of corona virus covid-19 hpv or flu vaccine for unknown patient arm - copy space close up

“I can’t see why they wouldn’t actually offer free vaccines throughout the whole flu season.”

The SA Greens party joined the call, saying flu season was back with a vengeance and making the vaccine free was vital to slow the spread.

“Given the huge health and economic implications of a spread of the flu, it makes sense for the Malinauskas Government to follow Queensland’s example,” Greens health spokesman Robert Simms said.

In the latest figures, 1195 cases of flu have been reported in SA this year, compared with a total 40 cases for the entirety of 2021, nearly a 200 per cent increase.

Of the cases, 586 were males and 609 females, with the median age of those infected at 21 in the state.

Prof Esterman said reported case numbers were just the tip of the iceberg, as those receiving a PCR test for Covid are not currently being tested for flu.

“What we’re seeing at the moment, is in terms of laboratory confirmed cases, this is where someone has gone to their GP with flu-like symptoms, the GP has taken a swab … we’re seeing numbers going up very quickly,” he said. “It’s probably much higher than that.”

He said case numbers are now multiplying rapidly and SA could experience its worst flu season in five years.

Earlier, Health Minister Chris Picton said SA authorities were seeking advice from Queensland chiefs on their free flu vaccines for everyone.

“We’ll be looking at what’s happened in Queensland,” he said.

“It hasn’t been in place in any other state previously.”

Mr Picton encouraged people to get their flu vaccine amid concerns vulnerable people were not having their shot.

“Unfortunately, we haven’t yet seen a high percentage of people in those cohorts coming forward for their free flu vaccination,” he said.

He said SA Health had allowed Commonwealth immunisation vaccines through more than 280 pharmacies and allowing people older than 65 to get a flu vaccine when they have a fourth Covid jab.

Free flu vaccines are available to eligible South Australians – see the box above.

Originally published as Flu vaccine Adelaide: SA Premier considering making flu jabs free