- The Crisafulli Government's free flu vaccination program for all Queenslanders begins tomorrow and runs until 30 September 2025.
- The flu vaccine will be available at providers such as GPs, pharmacies and community vaccination centres after the Crisafulli Government delivered critical funding for the program.
- The free flu vaccination program follows wiping out Labor's Patients' Tax to ease pressures on the healthcare system and household budgets.
The Crisafulli Government is urging all Queenslanders – from six months of age – to roll up their sleeves for its free flu vaccination program which begins tomorrow.
The $25 million program runs from 1 March to 30 September and provides Queenslanders with free vaccinations to protect themselves from influenza and ease pressure on the health system.
The vaccine will be available at GPs, pharmacies and community vaccination centres in the coming weeks.
Last year, Queensland hospitals experienced a significant spike due to influenza, with 7,000 people hospitalised and 42 percent of those aged over 65.
In addition to the free flu vaccinations program, the Crisafulli Government has axed Labor's Patients' Tax to reduce the cost burden for Queenslanders seeing their local GP as well as ease the pressure on our emergency departments.
Minister for Health and Ambulance Services Tim Nicholls said the Crisafulli Government was delivering Easier Access to Health Services with the free flu vaccination program.
"The Crisafulli Government has delivered $25 million for the program after the former Labor Government failed to fund it," Minister Nicholls said.
"We're making sure cost is no barrier to protect Queenslanders this flu season which is something the former Labor Government failed to do.
"I urge all Queenslanders to protect themselves and to keep vulnerable loved ones safe as we head into the flu season.
"It's critical that pregnant women, children and the elderly are vaccinated, given they are more vulnerable to severe illness and this is the reason we committed in January to funding free flu vaccinations in the 2025 flu season."
Minister Nicholls said the Crisafulli Government was delivering the first steps to heal Labor's Health Crisis.
"Easing pressure on household budgets for healthcare and axing Labor's Patients' Tax will provide relief to both Queenslanders hip pockets and stress at hospital emergency departments," he said.
"We've wiped out the threat of Labor's Patients' Tax for Queenslanders visiting their GPs and we're delivering on diagnosing, treating and curing the health system which was left to rot under Labor."
"There's no doubt we face a challenge to repair a decade of decline under Labor, but we're up to that challenge and we're delivering the change needed for our health system."
Queensland Chief Health Officer Dr Heidi Carroll said it was important people did not underestimate the impact influenza could have.
"We've seen a continuing rise in flu cases, hospitalisations and flu-related deaths over the past three years and that's why it's more important than ever to get vaccinated," Dr Carroll said.
"Almost 200 people died in Queensland from the flu last year and 80 per cent of the almost 7,000 people hospitalised were not vaccinated.
"I hope to see more Queenslanders get vaccinated in 2025, particularly pregnant people, children aged between six months and five years, and those aged 65 and older as they are more vulnerable to severe illness.
"Flu vaccination is free and more accessible than ever so my message to Queenslanders is simple: roll up your sleeves."
President of the Pharmacy Guild of Australia, Queensland Branch, Chris Owen welcomed the announcement from the Crisafulli Government.
"The free influenza vaccine program has the potential to be the difference between life and death for Queenslanders and we applaud the Crisafulli Government for its continued support for making the vaccine freely available for Queenslanders not covered by the National Immunisation Program," Mr Owen said.
"Getting the vaccine doesn't only benefit those who receive it directly, it also helps prevent the spread of disease to other loved ones, particular elderly relatives who are the most susceptible to having serious complications from influenza exposure."
