Townsville doctor urges residents to get free flu vaccinations as cases soar early

As the Townsville region is swamped by an early flu season, doctors are urging residents to take advantage of free vaccinations. See why.

Influenza is tearing through North Queensland communities months earlier than usual, with locals being urged to roll up their sleeves for a free flu vaccine to help protect them.

Already this year, 13,617 cases of the flu have been recorded, which was 35 per cent higher than in the same period in 2024.

In the Townsville Hospital and Health Service (THHS) District, weekly cases of Influenza (confirmed in the lab) have almost doubled since March 24, with 119 cases recorded in the week commencing April 7.

THHS’s data also reveals the threat posed by other acute respiratory viruses, with cases of Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) climbing in recent weeks, while Covid cases have dropped.

Queensland chief health officer Heidi Carroll said she did not want to see a repeat of last year where 200 people died statewide from Influenza infections.

Chief health officer Dr Heidi Carroll receives her flu vaccination from Dr Cedric Chu. Picture: Lyndon Mechielsen/Courier Mail.

“While most deaths occurred in people aged over 65, there were also 39 people aged between 30 and 65 in Queensland who died from the flu last year. So it is not always the elderly who die from the flu,” Ms Carroll said.

“Many of the cases that died were unvaccinated … the importance of vaccination shows it prevents hospitalisations and deaths.”

Clements Medical Townsville City’s Dr Sarah Kleinman said it was becoming quite an early season for Influenza, with some of her patients testing positive since the beginning of March.

“We certainly saw an early Influenza season last year as well. I am seeing people who are presenting feeling terribly unwell, and we swab them, and it’s influenza A,” Dr Kleinman said.

“What we normally think of as flu is more likely to be an alternative virus that causes a bit of a cough or a cold symptom, but true Influenza is actually a pretty significant illness.

Townsville General Practitioner Dr Sarah Kleinman. Picture: Shae Beplate.

“It can cause a lot of days lost at work. It can cause significant disease. It’s particularly bad for vulnerable members of the population, so the elderly and the immunocompromised.”

In late February, the state government commenced its $25m free flu vaccination program, available for all Queenslanders over the age of six months.

The vaccines will be available until September 30 from GPs, pharmacies, and community vaccination centres.

Dr Kleinman said getting vaccinated annually was necessary due to the virus mutating, and even if people had already caught the flu, they didn’t have protection against reinfection by other strains.

Q1 influenza case numbers have skyrocketed in Australia since the pandemic.

Having received the latest Influenza and Covid vaccinations on Wednesday, she stood by their safety.

“If I felt that the community was at risk of harm in any way, shape or form, from an Influenza vaccine or a Covid booster, I certainly wouldn’t offer it in my practice,” she said.

For more information, visit the Queensland Health website.

Originally published as Townsville doctor urges residents to get free flu vaccinations as cases soar early