Tasmania targets record-high flu jabs
Ethan James |
Tasmania is targeting a record-high flu vaccination rate amid a concerning rise in infections.
The state government this week announced it was rolling out a month-long free influenza jab program at GPs and pharmacies from Monday, on top of no-cost vaccines at pop-up clinics.
The program resembles similar initiatives in other states.
Tasmania’s health commander Kathrine Morgan-Wicks said traditionally about 30 per cent of the state’s roughly 541,000-strong population is vaccinated each year.
Ms Morgan-Wicks said she wants the state to surpass a previous high of 232,000 jabs and reach up to 300,000.
“Influenza has been absent from Tasmania over the last two years but in the last month it has returned with a vengeance,” she told reporters on Friday.
Health authorities were informed of 134 flu cases in the week to May 29, three times higher than the previous week and double the same time in 2019.
“This rise is concerning,” Ms Morgan-Wicks said.
“Tasmania typically lags in term of a flu season by some three to four weeks (compared to mainland Australia).
“We are already seeing the telltale signs in Queensland, NSW and Victoria, in terms of their also near-vertical increases in flu notifications.”
Some 198,000 flu jabs have already been delivered in Tasmania, among the highest per-capita rate in the nation, but 30 per cent of people over 65, and 85 per cent of children under five, remain unvaccinated.
Ms Morgan-Wicks indicated flu had a higher mortality rate than COVID-19 in Tasmania based on data from the past six months.
She said the state government was open to extending the four-week free vaccination program.
Under the scheme, participating pharmacies can vaccinate those aged 10 and over, and GPs six months and over.
AAP
