If you assumed flu season had wrapped up for the year, it’s worth a second look. Queensland’s Chief Health Officer has confirmed this year’s flu season is peaking later than usual, with case numbers and hospitalisations climbing over the past six weeks. For Hope Island families, that means there’s still time, and still good reason, to get this year’s flu vaccination sorted.
According to Queensland Health, flu notifications increased 44 per cent in a single week recently, the highest weekly count recorded so far this year, with increases seen across all regions and age groups. Since the start of March, the vast majority of flu hospitalisations in the state have been among people who weren’t vaccinated. Queensland’s Chief Health Officer has pointed to a later flu peak and a more unusual season overall this year, partly linked to last year’s high case numbers and an additional flu strain that circulated over summer.
You can read the full update from Queensland Health for more detail on this year’s flu activity.
Flu vaccinations are available for anyone aged six months and over, and are free under the National Immunisation Program for a number of eligible groups, including people aged 65 and over, pregnant women, young children, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, and people with certain medical conditions. If you don’t fall into one of these groups, you can still have the vaccine, sometimes for a small fee. Our reception team can confirm what applies to you before your appointment.
Queensland’s free flu vaccination program runs until 30 September, so if you or your family haven’t had this year’s shot yet, there’s still a window to get it done.
A vaccine typically takes around two weeks to provide protection, so getting it done sooner rather than later gives your immune system a head start while flu activity is still rising. With Queensland Health reporting that unvaccinated patients account for the large majority of this season’s flu hospitalisations, vaccination remains one of the more practical steps available to reduce your personal risk during a season that’s proving less predictable than usual.
This later, more unusual flu pattern is also a reminder not to rely on memory of previous years when deciding whether it’s still worth getting vaccinated. Each flu season behaves a little differently, shaped by which strains are circulating and how the population’s immunity has shifted since the year before, so it’s worth checking in with your GP rather than assuming the window has closed.
To make your visit quick and easy, bring along any immunisation records you have, and your child’s if relevant, your Medicare card, a list of your current medications and any allergies, and details of any recent illness or upcoming travel. If you’re not sure what you or your family are due for, our team can check the Australian Immunisation Register and let you know.
Flu and the common cold can feel similar early on, but flu tends to come on quickly and often brings a higher fever, body aches, fatigue and a more significant cough than a typical cold. Vaccination doesn’t remove all risk of catching the flu, but it remains one of the most straightforward ways to reduce your chances of getting seriously unwell, particularly for anyone in a higher-risk group. If you do get sick, our GPs are also here to help you manage symptoms and understand when further care is needed.
Because flu strains circulate differently each year, protection from a previous vaccine doesn’t necessarily carry over, which is why an annual flu shot is recommended for everyone six months and older. Many patients find it easiest to book their flu vaccine alongside another appointment they already have coming up, such as a repeat prescription, a care plan review or a general check-up, so it becomes one less thing to remember separately.
Queensland Health notes that flu vaccines are available from a GP, pharmacy, community clinic or other vaccination provider, so there’s flexibility in where you go. Choosing to have it done at your regular GP clinic means your vaccination is recorded directly against your medical history, and it’s an easy opportunity to raise any other health questions at the same time.
While anyone can catch the flu, some people are more likely to become seriously unwell, including young children, people aged 65 and over, pregnant women, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, and those living with certain medical conditions. Queensland Health data has shown vaccination coverage improving among young children this year, helped in part by the availability of a needle-free nasal spray flu vaccine option for eligible age groups, alongside continued gains in vaccination rates among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.
If you’re not sure whether you fall into a higher-risk group, that’s a straightforward question for your GP or our reception team to answer when you book.
Getting vaccinated isn’t just about you. It also helps protect the people around you who are more vulnerable to serious illness from flu, including young children, older family members, and anyone with an underlying health condition. If your family is also due for other routine vaccinations, our team can check what’s needed at the same visit. Our children’s health service covers routine childhood immunisations too.
With flu activity still rising across Queensland, now is a practical time to get protected rather than wait it out.
Marketplace Medical & Skin Clinic in Hope Island offers flu vaccinations for the whole family. Book online or call our reception team on 07 5510 9222. We’re located at 99-103 Broadwater Ave, Hope Island.
