Free Flu vaccinations for Queenslanders in 2024

Free flu vaccinations are now available for all Queensland residents over six months old!

With flu season typically peaking from May to October, it's essential that you and your family get vaccinated ahead of time to stay protected throughout the winter months.

The free flu vaccine is available until 30 September 2024.

Queensland pushes for free flu jabs nationwide

The Queensland government says it will push for the commonwealth to roll out free flu vaccinations across the nation every year, after announcing its own one-off program amid an outbreak of the virus.

The state government on Monday said it would spend as much as much as $10m on subsidising the vaccine, citing low vaccination rates across the state.

The premier, Annastacia Palaszczuk, said this year’s influenza B strain was particularly severe and encouraged people to get vaccinated.

“I don’t want there to be any barriers to getting the flu jab, which is why I am reinstating free flu vaccinations for all Queenslanders,” Palaszczuk said.

“If you are sick, please stay at home. That includes children going to school.”

A pharmacist prepares a vaccination

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The health minister, Shannon Fentiman, said she believed the federal government should fund the vaccination through the national immunisation program.

The program provides free vaccines to children, old people and high-risk groups for diseases like measles, mumps and rubella among others, according to the immunisation schedule.

“Wouldn’t it be better for everyone if this was part of the national immunisation program?” Fentiman said.

She said she will use this week’s meeting of Australia’s health ministers to push the idea.

“Queensland’s position is this should be made free every year, for flu, and that’s the position that I’ll be putting to the federal minister and our state and territory counterparts,” she said.

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“This should be something that every individual can access for free.”

The state’s chief health officer, Dr John Gerrard, said the Queensland government was stepping in this year because rates of flu were so high.

“The number of people in intensive care with Covid is significantly smaller than those with influenza,” he said.

He said due to the high rates of Covid vaccinations “influenza, at the moment, in the unimmunised, is clearly a worse disease than Covid”.

There have been 51,426 reported cases of flu in Queensland this year, with 3,676 people sent to hospital. Of those, 35 have been sent to the ICU, while 56 people have died.

2023 National influenza Immunisation Program

2023 influenza vaccination

In 2022, there was a resurgence of influenza arising from the reopening of international borders. In 2023, seasonal influenza activity is expected to continue, and we encourage you to emphasise the importance of influenza vaccination.

Annual vaccination is the most important measure to prevent influenza and its complications. It is recommended for all people 6 months of age and older.

At risk groups

Influenza vaccination is particularly important for those considered most at risk. Under the National Immunisation Program free influenza vaccines are provided to the following high risk groups:

• children aged 6 months to less than 5 years

• all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 6 months and over

• people aged 6 months and over with certain medical conditions that increase their chance of severe influenza and its complications

• pregnant women (at any stage during pregnancy)

• people aged 65 years and over.

Uptake of influenza vaccination in children under 5, First Nations people and pregnant women is low, and there is a need to continue to improve vaccination rates in these cohorts.

Vaccine supply and timing

National Immunisation Program (NIP) influenza vaccines will be available to order from April, subject to local supply arrangements.

Annual influenza vaccination should occur from April onwards to provide protection for the peak of the influenza season, which is generally June to September in most parts of Australia. Note though, vaccination can occur as soon as vaccine stock is available.

Influenza vaccines can be co-administered (given on the same day) with any COVID-19 vaccine.

It is mandatory to report all influenza vaccines administered to the Australian Immunisation Register (AIR), both NIP and private vaccines.

Prepare for the season

• Discard expired vaccines. Some influenza vaccine brands expired in December 2022 and others expire on 28 February 2023. Dispose of vaccines according to your local level protocols.

• Order 2023 vaccines. You can order NIP influenza vaccines through the usual channels in your state or territory. Contact your state or territory immunisation program if you have any questions.

• Promote the free vaccine to eligible people and priority groups. A recommendation from a health professional is key to many people taking up a vaccine. We will distribute posters, program advice and information cards to General Practices and Aboriginal Health Services from April. Resources are available from the 2023 influenza resource collection. General information about influenza for consumers can be found at health.gov.au/flu.

• Consider opportunities to co-administer vaccines. You can give influenza vaccines on the same day (co-administered) as any COVID-19 vaccine. Give patients the option to have both vaccinations if appropriate.

• Ensure vaccine safety. Always check the patient’s age before vaccination and use the correct influenza vaccine for their age.

• Report to the Australian Immunisation Register (AIR). Report all influenza vaccines administered to the AIR, both NIP and private vaccines.