Picture this, an alarming spike in influenza cases reported by our friends down under—Australia, have recorded over 63,000 cases of flu this year. While influenza primarily is a respiratory virus, it can affect the whole body. The toll that this pervasive illness takes on our healthcare system is no less staggering. This year’s numbers only deepen an alarming trend, as the whole country is seeing a significant worsening in the state of affairs versus past years.
The RACGP is particularly concerned about the escalating flu epidemic. They called out the fact that more than 48,000 cases were confirmed in the first quarter alone. This is an astounding increase from 30,494 cases in 2024 and 18,582 cases in the first three months of 2023. As the flu season progresses, health professionals are urging the public to consider vaccination as a crucial defense against the virus.
Influenza is primarily caused by influenza A or B viruses. There are several different subtypes/strains of these viruses, which shift/change each year. This year’s prevalent strains have become an unexpected and overwhelming burden on the local public health officials. On an annual basis, flu is responsible for hundreds of thousands of general practitioner visits. In addition, it leads to more than 40,000 hospitalizations, illustrating how deadly this virus can be.
“Obviously that’s not the most common outcome from the flu, and most people won’t require hospitalization or get all of those things. But the unfortunate reality is enough people do that it’s a big problem.” – Paul Griffin
In contrast, an average of 3,000 Australians die from flu-related complications annually. The current Rhode Island health director, Dr. Michael Wright, reminded them that last year more than 1,000 people died from the flu. This amounted to a staggering 67.3 percent jump from 2023. We know that influenza is a risk to public health. With over 4,200 hospitalizations related to the virus, it’s no secret.
This is especially concerning considering the fact that vaccination rates for MMR have been going in the wrong direction—downward—in recent years. So far this year, only 8.2 percent of Australians are vaccinated against the flu. In comparison, just 13.6 percent of people 15 to 50 years old had received a COVID vaccine by early May of 2020. The drop in vaccination uptake is worrying for community immunity and indicates a need for public health campaigns, or re-campaigning, moving forward.
“We need to remind people that this is not just about protecting yourself from what could be a rotten couple of weeks laid out, days of work, feeling really crook.” – Julie Leask
Through the National Immunisation Program, the federal government provides free flu vaccinations to vulnerable population groups. This is in addition to young children, pregnant women, adults aged 65 and over, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and those with certain medical conditions. With a total award of nearly $7.7 million, this initiative will both address equity in access and promote increased vaccination.
Experts stress that it’s critical to get vaccinated even if the vaccine isn’t perfect and doesn’t prevent breakthrough infections. Furthermore, Griffin said, breakthrough infections do happen. Even if one contracts an illness despite vaccination, the risk of severe illness and a longer duration of illness are significantly reduced.
“But what we know is that no matter what happens when you get the flu after you’re vaccinated, it’s going to help at least a little bit in terms of reducing the severity, perhaps duration, and perhaps the ability to pass it on. There’s a whole host of benefits.” – Paul Griffin
Leask highlighted the notion that flu vaccination should become a habit: “We know that flu vaccination is a habit, and once you start that habit, you tend to continue with it.” This view, articulated in the plan, underscores the need to put health first. People need to be vaccinated every year to protect themselves and their community.
These misperceptions about influenza itself are other factors leading to low vaccination uptake. Leask reported on the virus’s “personality problem,” which contributed to the public mistaking it for other, mild infectious diseases. This misconception could prevent people from admitting how serious influenza is.
