Australia is facing its worst influenza season on record.
According to national surveillance data, more than 410,000 laboratory-confirmed flu cases have been reported so far in 2025, surpassing last year’s 365,000 records cases.
‘This is not a record we want to be breaking,’ said Royal Australian College of General Practitioners President, Dr Michael Wright. ‘We must boost vaccination rates and reverse this trend.’
While infections climb, flu vaccination rates have stalled or declined. Only 25.7% of children aged six months to five years received the vaccine. Among Australians aged 65 and over, coverage dropped to 60.5%.
‘Needle-free vaccinations are a game changer,’ said Dr Wright. ‘Many young children fear needles, which can discourage parents… Intranasal sprays are safe, effective, and have increased coverage in countries like Finland, the UK, and Spain.’
So far this year, children under five have accounted for more than 44,500 infections, or nearly 11% of all flu cases. One in three cases have occurred in children under 15.
Action is urgently needed to combat complacency. ‘We must get more people vaccinated to keep patients out of hospital and ensure next year’s flu numbers are heading in the right direction,’ said Dr Wright.
