Free Flu Vaccination Day Returns in 2025 as Australia Faces Highest Ever Q1 Influenza Cases

2 April 2025

Australia is grappling with the highest first-quarter influenza case numbers since the end of the COVID19 pandemic with 47,219 confirmed cases reported in Q1 2025. This represents a 54.8% increase compared to the same time in 2024, and over 72 times higher than Q1 20221 . The number of cases in significantly growing year on year.

In 2024, there were a record 366,000 cases but also a record low vaccination rate across all age groups. This is putting pressure on primary practice and the hospital system. The reasons for the decline in vaccination rates are numerous. Misinformation, safety concerns, competing priorities, and out of pocket costs are just a few of the leading drivers pushing vaccination rates down. In response to the cost barrier for non-NIP eligible individuals, the Queensland Government offered free flu vaccinations to all residents in 2024 and will again from March to September this year. WA may also offer a free flu vaccination program to its residents.

Despite the surge in flu cases, vaccination rates are steadily declining. In October 2024, only 8.8 million influenza vaccine doses were recorded in the Australian Immunisation Register – down by 2.2 million doses (or 20%) from 20222.

Influenza-Associated Hospitalisations Reflect Ongoing Severity

Hospitalisation data offers key insight into the real-world impact of influenza, particularly in a post-pandemic context. According to the FluCAN sentinel hospital network, 3,709 people were hospitalised with influenza in 2024, up from 3,480 in 2023 and 1,832 in 20223. While these figures are still lower than the 3,915 hospitalisations recorded in 2019, they highlight a concerning rebound in flu-related severity following the COVID-19 pandemic3.

Influenza-Associated Deaths Are Climbing

Often underestimated, influenza poses a significant risk to health and can lead to severe illness and death. In 2024, Australia recorded a total of 951 influenza-related deaths, as reported by the Australian Bureau of Statistics4. This figure represents a significant increase compared to previous years, with 599 deaths in 2023 and 427 deaths in 20224. Notably, the 2024 season had the highest number of laboratory-confirmed influenza cases since records have been kept; however, the number of deaths associated with influenza was lower than in 2017 and 20193.

The downward trend in flu vaccination across all age groups is deeply concerning. Healthcare professionals are doing their best to vaccinate as many Australians as possible, but a significant majority of Australians are not convinced of the benefits. The Australian public needs to be better aware of the dangers of flu and be comfortable knowing that flu vaccination is safe and effective.

“We need to fix the flu vaccination problem before it significantly affects other disease areas and at-risk individuals” said Dr Andrew Minton, CEO of the Immunisation Coalition. “It’s going to take a focused and sustained effort from healthcare professionals, governments and organisations to convince the general public of the value of vaccination as a health benefit. If not, it may become too complicated and too expensive to fix and we’re faced with a national health crisis that will burden primary care services and hospitals every winter season”.

Dr Rod Pearce AM, Chair of the Immunisation Coalition, says: “Hospitalisations are a clear sign that influenza continues to hit hard, particularly among risk populations. With hospital beds already under pressure, boosting vaccination rates is a simple but crucial step we can take to reduce avoidable admissions and protect our health system this winter. It’s not about whether you catch the flu, it’s about how sick you get if you do.”

To address the cost barrier, the Immunisation Coalition (IC) will once again host a FREE Flu Vaccination Day during World Immunisation Week (24-30 April) to adults aged 18 to 64 years who are not otherwise eligible under the National Immunisation Program (NIP). This is also supported by a direct to consumer 7-day social media campaign that raises awareness of the seriousness of infectious diseases, and the harm they can cause.

The IC’s FREE Flu Vaccination Day is strategically scheduled at the end of April to ensure optimal protection throughout Australia’s influenza season. In Australia, flu activity typically peaks around July, with August often experiencing the highest number of cases5. Since the vaccine’s effectiveness is strongest within the first 3 to 4 months after administration, receiving the flu shot in late April or early May provides the best protection during these peak months5 and reduce the risk of severe illness.

2025 Event Details:

FREE Flu Vaccination Day is not intended to solve a national problem, but it does vaccinate adults that may otherwise choose not to get vaccinated. Since you do not know when or who will catch the flu, this is a step in the right direction.

For more information and to book your free vaccination, visit: https://www.immunisationcoalition.org.au/event-category/immunisation-action-week/

References:

Australian Government Department of Health. (n.d.). National Notifiable Disease Surveillance System Dashboard. Retrieved March 28, 2025, from https://nindss.health.gov.au/pbi-dashboard/
Australian Government Department of Health. (2024, October). Influenza (flu) immunisation data – 1 March to 6 October – 2021-2024 [PDF]. Retrieved from https://www.health.gov.au/sites/default/files/2024-10/influenza-flu-immunisation-data-1-march-to-6-october-2021-2024.pdf
Barr, I. G. (2024). Influenza in Australia before, during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. Microbiology Australia. Retrieved from https://www.immunisationcoalition.org.au/influenza-in-australia-before-during-and-after-the-covid-19-pandemic/
Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2024, November 18). Deaths due to COVID-19, influenza and RSV in Australia – 2022 – November 2024. Retrieved from https://www.abs.gov.au/articles/deaths-due-covid-19-influenza-and-rsv-australia-2022-november-2024
Queensland Health. (2025). Queensland Health 2025 Influenza vaccination advice. Retrieved March 28, 2025, from https://www.health.qld.gov.au/clinical-practice/guidelines-procedures/diseases-infection/immunisation/service-providers/influenza