As Australia confronts an unparalleled surge in influenza cases, the Immunisation Coalition is set to host their annual FREE Flu Vaccination Day for individuals aged 18 to 64 years during Immunisation Action Week (IAW), aligning with World Immunisation Week.
This year’s Free Flu Vaccination Day is more critical than ever, with recent data from the National Notifiable Disease Surveillance System revealing a record-breaking first quarter in 2024 with 30,402 laboratory-confirmed influenza cases1. This marks a 63.59% increase from the 18,584 cases reported in the same period in 2023, demonstrating the virus’s growing threat and the pressing need for comprehensive vaccination efforts.
Figure 1. Data collected from the NNDSS on 19 April 20241
Event Details:
Adelaide: 30 April, Banqueting Room, Adelaide Town Hall (10.00am – 4.00pm)
Melbourne: 30 April, Melbourne Town Hall (10.00am – 4.00pm)
Brisbane: 30 April, Sherwood Room, Brisbane City Hall (10.00am – 4.00pm)
Sydney: 24 April, Embassy Conference Centre (10.00am – 4.00pm)
Immunisation Action Week started in Melbourne 11 years ago. Since then, the initiative has expanded to include Sydney in 2021, Brisbane in 2023, and now Adelaide for the first time in 2024.
The Immunisation Coalition is deeply concerned with the common underestimation of influenza’s impact, as many Australians’ view influenza as just a “bad cold”. However, influenza is a serious disease and can result in serious health complications, which may lead to hospitalisation and even death2.
As of 14 April 2024, only 1,291,211 Australians have received their influenza vaccine, a significant decrease from the 1,572,384 vaccinated by the same time last year3. This decline in vaccination rate highlights the urgency of increasing vaccination coverage to protect all Australians, especially those most vulnerable to severe complications from influenza. Those most at risk include young children, pregnant women, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, older Australians, and individuals with underlying health conditions.
“The sharp increase in Influenza cases this year is a stark reminder of influenza’s impact on community health,” stated Dr. Andrew Minton, CEO of the Immunisation Coalition. “By providing free access to the flu vaccine for all Australians, we aim to help reduce the spread of influenza and its impact on the community, GP Practices and hospitals”.
The Immunisation Coalition would also like to acknowledge and praise both Western Australia and Queensland Government initiatives for their recent free influenza vaccination programs as ‘this will help drive vaccinations and reduce influenza infections across both States. We look forward to other States and Territories following suit together with an effective public communication program” said Andrew.
Dr Rodney Pearce AM, Chairman of the Immunisation Coalition Board underscores the importance of vaccination: “Every flu season is unpredictable, but vaccination remains our most reliable defense. The collective immunity we achieve through events like this can drastically reduce the flu’s impact on our lives.”
For more information on how to book your vaccination, please visit https://www.immunisationcoalition.org.au/event-category/immunisation-action-week/
References:
- Dashboard · NNDSS Portal. (2024, April 9) Retrieved April 9, 2024, from https://nindss.health.gov.au/pbi-dashboard/
- Influenza. (2022, September 14). Immunisation Coalition. Retrieved April 9,
2024, from https://www.immunisationcoalition.org.au/diseases/influenza/ - Australian Immunisation Register – Influenza Data – 1 March to 14 April. (2024, April 15). Australian Government of Department of Health and Aged Care. Retrieved April 19, 2024, from https://www.health.gov.au/resources/publications/influenza-flu-immunisation-data-1-march-to-14-april-2021-2024?language=en