Low influenza and COVID vaccination rates spark concern as flu season kicks off
Since mid-May, flu cases have increased in most parts of the country, following a record-breaking number of infections earlier in the year that had recently plateaued.
At the same time, COVID-19 infections have begun to climb, while cases of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) have steadily increased since the start of 2025.
"We had an early bump [in flu cases] that seemed to flatten out, but it really does look like the season is kicking off," Phillip Britton, an infectious diseases physician at The Children's Hospital at Westmead, said.
So far, more than 109,000 cases of flu have been reported in 2025, most of which have occurred in children under 10 years.
Flu vaccines are recommended from April onwards each year in time for the peak flu season, which is typically June to September.
While flu vaccination is recommended for everyone aged six months and older, just a quarter of Australians have received a flu jab this year.
Among children aged six months to five years, who are at increased risk of serious complications from influenza, only 15.9 per cent are immunised.
"That really is concerning," Dr Britton said.
"We've already had a small number of children with very severe influenza in intensive care, and we're expecting now … that those cases are going to become more frequent."
Current flu vaccine coverage in children, although similar to rates this time last year, is less than half of what it was five years ago.
Vaccine uptake is also lagging in other at-risk groups, Australian Medical Association president Danielle McMullen said. Just over half of Australians over 65 have received a flu jab this year.
"We are particularly concerned by vaccination rates among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, which have declined across all age groups," she said.
Each year, on average, seasonal flu results in 3,500 deaths and 18,000 hospitalisations.
Dr McMullen said a reduction in COVID-19 booster rates this year compared to last year was also "alarming".
In the past six months, just 26.2 per cent of people aged 75 and older have received a COVID-19 booster, down from 39.9 per cent this time last year.
While the risk of dying from COVID-19 is now much lower than it was at the beginning of the pandemic, it still poses a significant risk to older Australians, and remains the leading cause of death from acute respiratory infection.
"New COVID-19 strains continue to circulate leading to increased hospitalisations, making regular boosters essential for maintaining protection against severe illness," Dr McMullen said.
Mater Health infectious diseases physician Paul Griffin said the new NB.1.8.1 COVID variant appeared to be "more infectious and a little bit immune evasive", and may explain the recent uptick in COVID cases.
"That's what we've seen in a few countries already, and looks to be, whilst early days, what is potentially happening here," Professor Griffin said.
"The concerning thing is the overlap with the other viruses — flu and RSV — which is a very significant burden of respiratory infections for us to have to manage."
While some people consciously choose not to get themselves or their children vaccinated, research shows the most common barriers to flu vaccination that parents report include feeling distressed when thinking about vaccinating their child, as well as barriers related to access and cost.
Dr Britton said he believed a combination of vaccine fatigue "coming out of the pandemic" and complacency over the flu also meant many parents weren't taking up the opportunity.
"That might be the case for some people, but as a doctor who works in a hospital, it is tragic to see children end up in intensive care … with a preventable infection."
Yesterday, the federal government revealed plans to tackle declining childhood vaccination rates with the launch of a new immunisation plan.
The National Immunisation Strategy sets a goal of increasing immunisation uptake around Australia over the next five years by reducing vaccine hesitancy and improving access.
Among adults, research shows there is a significant gap between vaccine intention and action: many more people want or intend to get a yearly flu vaccine than end up doing so.
In Australia, the flu vaccine is available through GPs, pharmacies (for people above the age of two), community health centres, and Aboriginal Medical Services.
It is free for at-risk groups (however some providers may charge a consultation or service fee), which includes:
Queensland and Western Australia are currently offering flu vaccines to everyone.
"The flu vaccine isn't a perfect vaccine, but it really does work, and it's our best tool to protect people from severe flu," Dr Britton said.
"If your child is under five or if your child has got any medical conditions that put them at risk, now is the time to get their flu vaccine."
Dr Britton also encouraged pregnant women and parents of young children to take up the opportunity to protect their kids against RSV.
While RSV causes mild illness in most people, it can lead to serious, life-threatening complications, particularly in infants and older adults.
RSV immunisation is available and free for women who are 28 to 36 weeks pregnant, as well as infants under eight months whose mothers were not vaccinated, and infants up to 24 months of age who are at increased risk of severe illness.
According to the Department of Health, more than 60,000 women have received an RSV vaccine since the program began in February, which has resulted in an almost 40 per cent drop in cases in children from last year.
In addition to improving vaccination rates, Professor Griffin said there was a lot Australians could do to reduce the impact of respiratory illnesses.
"Vaccinations are obviously the backbone of prevention … but it's also those simple things that reduce the risk of getting infected, including mask wearing, hand hygiene and so on," he said.
"People think they're doing the right thing by coming to work or sending their kids to school when they clearly have respiratory symptoms.
"The best thing people can do is stay home until they recover and limit that onward transmission."
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