IN A letter to health professionals, Chief Medical Officer Professor Anthony Lawler expressed concern about declining influenza vaccine rates, urging vaccinators to focus on improving uptake as the flu season approaches.
Last year only 26% of under-fives were vaccinated, compared to 30% in 2023, while in people aged 65 and older, uptake declined from as high as 70% in 2022 to 61%.
Professor Lawler noted that pregnant women face higher risks of hospitalisation, yet their vaccination rates remain suboptimal, a trend also noted with other vaccines (PD 13 Feb).
Among the priority target groups, Professor Lawler said First Nations people have the lowest reported vaccination rates, with uptake among First Nations children under five at 18% in 2024, down from 23% in 2023.
Given the heightened risks of respiratory disease during winter, Professor Lawler suggested vaccinators consider co-administration of flu and COVID vaccines where appropriate, recommending they should also take steps to ensure patients are up to date with all vaccinations.
For pregnant women, influenza vaccines can be co-administered with the maternal RSV vaccine (between 28-36 weeks), pertussis vaccine (between 20 and 32 weeks) COVID vaccines and other vaccines indicated during pregnancy.
All vaccinations given must be recorded on the Australian Immunisation Register (AIR).
The 2025 National Immunisation Program (NIP) influenza vaccines will be available to order from Apr, subject to local supply arrangements, with vaccination recommended from mid-Apr onwards to ensure optimal protection over peak flu season (Jun to Sep).
Department of Health and Aged Care information about the 2025 flu vaccine is available HERE. KB
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