Flu crisis fears amid ‘vaccination fatigue’ and disinformation

Flu cases continued to hit new peaks as the sick season was arriving sooner and could hit harder than ever amid ‘vaccination fatigue’ and ‘disinformation campaigns’.

Influenza rates in January and February were higher than the six years prior, and follow a summer of unprecedented flu rates that consistently sat at more than 14,000 cases a month. Picture: iStock

Flu cases have continued to hit new peaks as GPs and chemists scramble to get ahead of a sick season that was arriving sooner and could hit harder than ever amid “vaccination fatigue” and “disinformation campaigns”.

Influenza rates in January and February were higher than the six years prior, and follow a summer of unprecedented flu rates that consistently sat at more than 14,000 cases a month.

November’s 14,467 cases were almost four times that of 2019’s pre-pandemic levels and the surge has prompted medical experts to warn Australians about the rise and risks.

“It’s important that we have mechanisms to help protect the community, and clearly vaccination is a key component,” Australian Medical Association president Steve Robson said.

“We have a bit of an advantage in the southern hemisphere in that scientists can look at the types of influenza that are common or serious in the northern hemisphere and help to build a profile of vaccine that helps protect against (those strains).”

Mr Robson warned of the impact of anti-vax movements, particularly in conjunction with vaccine fatigue setting in.

“People are getting confused or mixed up about what vaccinations they’ve had … They’re sometimes finding it all too hard,” he said, saying “disinformation campaigns” were “actively dissuading” people from getting jabbed.

“There are all of these forces … affecting vaccination rates, and that’s why we’re seeing things like measles outbreaks.”

AMA President Steve Robson warned that the flu season was primed to hit harder and earlier this year. Picture: Martin Ollman

Townsville GP and RACGP rural chair Michael Clements.

Most of Australia’s major influenza hotspots could be in NSW, due to higher circulation of tourists, according to Codral’s Cold & Flu Forecast, with a “flu epicentre” anticipated in Newcastle.

Liverpool, Blacktown, Hornsby and Hurstville in NSW, and Queensland’s Southport where also expected to be flu-heavy areas.

Australia was susceptible to flu outbreaks “imported from overseas” and the country was “out of practice”, according to the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners rural chair Michael Clements. “We haven’t had large numbers of flu cases in previous years, so there is an opportunity for the virus to run rampant again,” he said. A Covid-focus had meant Australians had “forgotten how significant” the flu could be.

“I think there’s an element of vaccine fatigue. (People are) topping up with Covid, influenza, meningococcal, and all of these vaccines. Maybe they’re feeling it’s a bit harder to keep up with them.”

Launceston GP Toby Gardner.

In 2023, national influenza vaccination coverage was highest among those aged 65 and over, at 63 per cent. It was the only demographic in which a majority had their flu shot.

Last year, Queensland’s state government provided free flu vaccinations in an effort to curb an influenza B strain. The federal government followed suit and announced the addition of a flu vaccination in its National Immu­nis­ation Program, for vulnerable people and communities.

Launceston-based GP Toby Gardner was gearing up for a major flu shot drive, offering carpark vaccination throughout April. “We know there’s a bit of vaccine fatigue in the community and hesitancy given what we’re seeing with the summer rates of flu already compared to what they were last year,” the Newstead Medical doctor said, calling for free immunisation to be rolled out nationally.

He said preventive-care costs in providing free immunisation would far outstrip the cost of emergency care for those who presented with severe influenza.