Concerning myths stopping parents from vaccinating their kids

Daniel Andrews says the government is in talks to make the influenza vaccine free to help curb the surging cases across the state.

Victoria is working on a plan to make flu jabs free in a bid to help curb the surging cases of influenza across the state.

Premier Daniel Andrews said on Wednesday that his government was having “detailed discussions” with the Australian Medical Association and the Pharmacy Guild.

“We’re sitting down with GPs and pharmacists who do the flu shots to talk to them about what’s possible and how this would work,” he said.

The Herald Sun understands about three-quarters of the state’s population remain unvaccinated for the flu.

“Our vax rates for flu are higher than other states,” Mr Andrews said.

“I want them higher but at the same time it’s really important we don’t just make announcements and we have a detailed plan if we are going to go down that path.”

Premier Daniel Andrews says Victoria’s vax rates for flu are higher than other states. Picture: Luis Enrique Ascui

The Premier said there was a “unique challenge” this flu season with limited community immunity.

“We didn’t have flu in the country last year or the year before really, because we had our borders shut,” he said.

“We’ve got many, many Covid cases out there, as well as flu.

“If you combine those two things together, it puts even further pressures on our health system.”

Mr Andrews cast doubt over whether he would receive a contribution from the federal government.

“I think you can assume that on all matters health we will always be seeking a contribution from Canberra,” he said.

“Whether we get that or not, that’s another issue.”

The flu can cause serious illness, with some children needing hospital treatment. Picture: Andrew Henshaw

Only half of Aussie kids will get flu jab

It comes as half of Aussie children will not be vaccinated against this year’s flu, the Royal Children’s Hospital can reveal, leaving them unprotected during an influenza season expected to be severe.

The hospital’s latest national health poll found only 50 per cent of children have had, or will have, this year’s flu shot and that many parents believe a concerning number of myths.

Prior to Covid, flu was the leading cause of hospitalisation for children under five, but the survey of 2002 parents found more than a third think healthy children cannot get seriously unwell from the flu.

Paediatrician and poll director Dr Anthea Rhodes said influenza cases were rapidly rising “earlier than we would typically expect” and the misconceptions were concerning.

“Fortunately, the vast majority of children with flu still get a relatively mild illness, but a significant proportion can become seriously unwell.

“Children still in Australia do die from the flu.”

The most common misconception — found in almost half of hesitant parents — was that it wasn’t necessary every year.

Mum Erin Lisk said it was important that her kids Emitt 5 and Beatrice 2, got their flu jab. Picture: Wayne Taylor

Other myths included that the vaccine didn’t work well enough (35 per cent) and was unsafe for children (19 per cent), there will be less flu than previous years (19 per cent), and a worry their child would ‘catch’ the flu from the vaccine — all of which were incorrect.

Dr Rhodes said the fear of catching the flu from the vaccine was “a really longstanding myth” and impossible.

“These misconceptions are really important to set straight so that parents have the facts,” she said.

“Some (parents) may be experiencing vaccine fatigue – they have had to get Covid-19 vaccinations several times, and now feel their children have had too many vaccines.

“But after so much effort to protect everyone from Covid-19, we don’t want to drop the ball at the last minute, and let the flu sneak in the back door.

“The flu is back – and we are all more vulnerable to it because of our lack of recent exposure and reduced uptake of the flu vaccine over the past two years.

“It’s just as important to vaccinate your child against the flu as it is to vaccinate them against Covid-19.”

But 43 per cent didn’t believe this, and more than half didn’t know you can get both the Covid and flu at the same time.

Almost a third of parents hesitant to book their child’s vaccine pointed to the cost (the free vaccines are only for children under six).

Coburg mum Erin Lisk said her children, Emitt, 5, and Beatrice Pickering, 2, got their flu jab last week like they do every year.

“It’s horrible to have the flu, and you don’t want it to develop into anything serious especially with kids,” she said.

Originally published as Concerning myths stopping parents from vaccinating their kids