THE Palaszczuk Government’s free flu vaccination campaign, which was due to finish up today (June 30), will be extended until Sunday, July 17, with the Premier urging Queenslanders to take up the offer of a free flu shot.
The program, which is held in partnership with GPs and Pharmacies across the State, commenced on May 24, 2022 with around 650,000 people already having received their influenza vaccine. It comes as Health Minister Yvette D’Ath shared that more than 29,000 people in Queensland have tested positive to flu so far this year, with over 3,000 hospitalisations.
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said the extension will allow families to take advantage of the program over the school holidays.
“We know that parents may not have had the opportunity to take the family in for their free flu shot, that’s why the next two weeks will be critical,” The Premier said.
“This campaign has already been incredibly successful and a further two weeks will increase Queensland’s coverage as we hit the peak of winter.”
Minister D’Ath said that while we’re still early in the flu season, it’s already proving harsh with 90 patients currently in our public hospitals, five of those in ICU, who are positive with influenza.
“The rollout has had an excellent response, lifting the state’s flu vaccination rate by more than 12 per cent,” Minister D’Ath said.
“But we want to protect more Queenslanders, especially families and those vulnerable to influenza.”
