The Royal Australian College of GPs (RACGP) is encouraging patients to prepare for peak influenza season, following concerning reports of record case numbers to start 2025.
Australia has already recorded 46,325 cases of lab-confirmed influenza this year, which is 50% higher than this time last year, and likely only scratching the surface of the true number. The spike comes in the wake of a sharp fall in influenza vaccination rates compared to previous years, as well as for a range of other diseases including whooping cough and COVID-19.
RACGP President, Dr Michael Wright, warned that the flu must be taken seriously, with a potential surge over the winter months likely to place tremendous strain on Australia's health system.
"This is a virus that takes lives, and an early start to the flu season is an ominous sign," he said.
"The number one step you can take to help keep you, your family, and your community as safe as possible, is to get vaccinated. Influenza vaccines are recommended for everyone aged over six months of age, and higher risk patients have access to free vaccinations under the National Immunisation Program. Vaccination can commence as soon as vaccine stock becomes available, so please book in a GP consult and roll up your sleeve. If your GP clinic has not yet received sufficient stock or they're prioritising certain patient groups, please be patient with our practice team members, including reception staff, who will be doing their best to get you vaccinated.
"More than 1,000 deaths last year involved the flu, a 67.3% increase on 2023, while more than 4,200 people were admitted to hospital. When you consider that 2024 also saw 2,503 people die from COVID-19 and 78 from respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV, it's easy to see how a 'perfect storm' of infection could push our health system to near breaking point."
Dr Wright said some patient groups, including young children, were at especially high risk.
"Children under five are at higher risk of experiencing much more serious illness, so it's particularly troubling that vaccination rates in children in this age bracket dropped from 30.3% in 2023 to 25.8% last year," he said.
"Other patient groups at risk of serious illness include people aged over 65, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, pregnant women, individuals with certain medical conditions such as HIV, cardiac disease and chronic respiratory conditions, those who smoke, as well as patients who are immunocompromised.
"Vaccination rates have declined steadily among patients aged 65 and older, from 69% in 2022, to 63.6% in 2023 and just 61.1% last year, which is a concerning trajectory. I'm also alarmed to see that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients have the lowest reported uptake rates among all the priority groups, including just 18.3% of those aged five and under, a sharp decline from 23.1% in 2023.
"Please spread the word to people in your life, including friends, family, and colleagues – the flu is a serious illness, and this year is looking especially dire, so let's work together and get vaccinated."
