By Jeremy Cook
While frontline health workers battle Queensland’s worst flu season in seven years, rural health practitioners have reminded residents it’s not too late to get vaccinated.
It comes as vaccination rates against the flu fall to their lowest post-pandemic levels across Australia.
In 2024, Queensland’s flu vaccination rates trailed the national average in all age groups excluding over-65s as of mid-August.
When announcing the state government would extend its free flu shot program for the third year in a row in early-April this year, Queensland Premier Steven Miles acknowledged low vaccination rates, saying many people had post-pandemic “vaccine fatigue”.
Warwick GP and Condamine Medical Centre’s Lynton Hudson said this year’s flu season had been noticeably worse compared to previous years. Dr Hudson said a couple of things had happened since the COVID-19 years which likely explained the current surge.
“We actually controlled the flu amazingly well because of what we were doing, so we weren’t getting flu cases at all,” he said.
“It’s obviously on people’s radar a lot less, so I think what’s happened is … people have let their hygiene slip a bit.
“And I think the second thing is our natural exposure’s just dropped right off.
“People who get it are getting it because they haven’t been exposed for the last couple of years.”
Dr Hudson urged uptake of the free flu shot and allayed typical vaccine fears, describing the risks as “miniscule”.
“In fact, I don’t think there’s really any at all,” he said about vaccine risks
“If we get everyone doing it then we get what we call herd immunity, so we keep the virus out of town because most people are immune to it.
“The great thing is it’s just so easy for people because it doesn’t cost them anything now.”
The timing of flu season can vary each year but typically occurs between May and October, commonly peaking in August or September.
Clinical nurse at Chinchilla Medical Practice Sharon Weedon said vaccination rates among children had been “lower than usual” so far this year.
“We haven’t vaccinated anywhere near as many kids as we usually do,” Ms Weedon said.
“Whether they’ve been too sick to be vaccinated or whether it’s just the fear … I’m not sure, but definitely lower than usual.”
Though no such hesitation had been noticed among elderly clients, Ms Weedon said.
“Most of our clients are over 65 and they’re more than happy to come and have a jab,” she said.
That observation is reflected in state and national influenza vaccination rates which showed people aged over 65 had the highest uptake of the flu shot with 60.5 per cent vaccinated, according to the National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance.
Children aged between five and 15 came in last at 13.7 per cent in Queensland and 13.9 per cent nationally.
With Queensland’s health authorities warning a peak caseload could still be weeks aways, Ms Weedon reminded residents it was “not too late to get the flu needle”.
Other than immunisation, Dr Hudson said there were a number of steps people could take to prevent spreading the flu.
“Hand washing is really important. If you’ve got symptoms … if you’re concerned, wear a mask,” he said.
“The surgical masks aren’t perfect but they do offer protection and so they are worthwhile.”
Queensland health data shows approximately 244 people have been hospitalised across the Darling Downs in 2024 so far, compared to 308 throughout the whole of 2023.
In a statement, Queensland Health Minister Shannon Fentiman urged residents who haven’t been vaccinated “to do so”.
“Queensland is the only state to make flu vaccine free for everyone – so if you haven’t had your free flu vaccination please get it,” Ms Fentiman said.
