Experts say we can still do more – and it’s not too late to get vaccinated against influenza this season!

The Immunisation Coalition (IC) congratulates the States for introducing and now extending their free  influenza vaccination programs.  The IC calls for the programs to be extended until the end of the month and for all vaccine providers  to be included in the free state influenza vaccination programs.   This will be a long winter – so […]

Immunisation Coalition
  • The Immunisation Coalition (IC) congratulates the States for introducing and now extending their free  influenza vaccination programs. 
  • The IC calls for the programs to be extended until the end of the month and for all vaccine providers  to be included in the free state influenza vaccination programs.  
  • This will be a long winter – so it is not too late to vaccinate! 

With influenza cases climbing, and hospital admissions increasing, the Immunisation  Coalition (IC) believes there is much more still to be done to address the current flu  epidemic affecting Australia this year. 1 

Kim Sampson, CEO of the Immunisation Coalition says “It’s great news that SA and WA have  announced the extension of their free influenza vaccination programs to the end of July. We  just need the other states to follow suit. It would also be helpful if the territories made their  

flu vaccines free for all of their constituents. Ideally, we should have the whole country  working in unison to combat influenza in 2022”. 

He went on to say, ““Local Councils and Public Health Units have the capacity to be  providing influenza vaccination services but are not funded under the current  arrangements. With such a narrow window to get people vaccinated, the IC believes this is a  lost opportunity and calls on the States and Territories to include these vaccine providers in  their reimbursement scheme”. 

This year the TGA has released almost 18m flu doses for use in Australia – enough to  vaccinate almost 3/4s of the eligible population (all those 6 months or older). However only  approximately 10m doses have been used so far according to the AIR (Australian  Immunisation Register).2 

“In most parts of Australia, we are experiencing a severe influenza season, which has arrived  early, but is likely to last for many months to come. However, it’s not too late to get  vaccinated and we have plenty of vaccines available, so my suggestion is to get vaccinated  now, while its free, to prevent being infected with influenza this year” said Prof Ian Barr of  the WHO Collaborating Centre in Melbourne. 

Dr Rod Pearce AM, Chairman of the Immunisation Coalition says “There are now high rates  of influenza circulating with COVID-19, and we are beginning to see co-infections in children. The uptake of influenza vaccination for children under the age of 5 needs to increase  significantly if we want to protect this vulnerable population.”  

Kim Sampson, CEO of the Immunisation Coalition went on to say: “the extension of the  free influenza vaccination program to the end of July across all states and territories is a  great opportunity for all Australians of all ages to have access to influenza vaccines via 

different community services – and there are still plenty of appointments available with  your local GP’s and Pharmacists”.

Page Published: 11 July 2022 | Page Updated: 11 July 2022