The 2024 Flu Season has been the worst season since 2019 with 349,728 influenza notifications reported between January 1 and October 2024.
Sick leave due to influenza cost employers between an approx. $454,000,000 and $757,000,000 in 2024*.
Whilst reported influenza cases increased by nearly 35% year-on-year, the number of Australian’s getting vaccinated decreased by 5.8% in all States and Territories.
*According to the ABS, the average Australian earns approx. $100,000 a year, and the average number of days taken off for a flu case is 3 – 5 days. This assumes all days off were taken ill, were covered by sick pay (based on a full-time worker working 231 work days a year).
| State/Territories | Decrease in flu vaccinations |
|---|---|
|
Australia |
5.8% |
|
Australian Capital Territory |
3% |
|
New South Wales |
4.9% |
|
Northern Territory |
1.8% |
|
Queensland |
4.6% |
|
South Australia |
3.8% |
|
Tasmania |
5.9% |
|
Victoria |
4.9% |
|
Western Australia |
15.3% |
Vaccination rates decreased in all states and territories, with the biggest drops recorded in:
- Western Australia (down 15.3%)
- New South Wales (down 4.9%)
- Victoria (down 4.9%)
- Queensland (down 4.6%)
- Children aged five to fifteen years were among the least likely to be vaccinated.
ABC News / Source Australian Immunisation Register
| AGE | ACT | NSW | VIC | QLD | SA | WA | TAS | NT | AUS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
6mo – < 5yrs |
47.7 |
24.5 |
29.8 |
22.1 |
26.9 |
22.0 |
29.4 |
32.6 |
25.8 |
|
5 – < 15 yrs |
21.8 |
13.1 |
15.0 |
13.9 |
14.5 |
13.1 |
14.0 |
13.3 |
14.0 |
|
15 – < 50 yrs |
30.5 |
19.1 |
23.0 |
18.7 |
23.3 |
17.1 |
22.7 |
21.0 |
20.4 |
|
50 – < 65 yrs |
42.6 |
30.8 |
34.6 |
32.6 |
37.1 |
29.2 |
39.6 |
25.2 |
32.7 |
|
≥ 65 yrs |
65.2 |
58.4 |
61.8 |
60.8 |
66.5 |
58.5 |
67.7 |
33.9 |
60.5 |
2024 Influenza Vaccination % coverage* - by jurisdiction - all people
Australian Vaccine Services
A leading provider of workplace flu vaccinations and pharmacy flu vouchers in Australia, Now taking bookings for 2025.
| AGE | ACT | NSW | VIC | QLD | SA | WA | TAS | NT | AUS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
6mo – 5yrs |
48.5 |
26.1 |
31 |
23 |
27 |
26.6 |
31.3 |
29.2 |
27.4 |
|
5 – 15 yrs |
24.2 |
18.8 |
16.9 |
14.3 |
15.3 |
18.4 |
16 |
13.2 |
15.8 |
|
16 – 50 yrs |
32.3 |
20.4 |
24.5 |
19.9 |
24.6 |
21.5 |
24.4 |
20.7 |
22 |
|
51 – 65 yrs |
45.8 |
33.9 |
38.2 |
35.5 |
40.3 |
37.2 |
44.1 |
26.5 |
36.4 |
|
66+ yrs |
67.3 |
60.3 |
63.8 |
63.4 |
67.9 |
64.3 |
70 |
35.9 |
62.9 |
2023 Influenza Vaccination % coverage* - by jurisdiction - all people
Coverage calculated using vaccinations given 01 Mar – 12 Aug 2023 (inclusive) AIR data as at 13 Aug 2023. Coverage data in these tables may differ slightly from estimates published elsewhere due to differences in calculation methodologies and/or the AIR data being used in the calculations having being downloaded on different dates.