Free flu vaccines expanded across Queensland, including Moreton Bay

The Queensland Government will expand its free influenza vaccination program from 1 March, giving all residents aged six months and over access to flu shots through local GP clinics, community pharmacies and other health providers.

For the first time, a needle-free nasal spray flu vaccine will be available for children aged two to five, offering an alternative for families with young children ahead of the winter flu season.

The expanded program will also allow more trained health practitioners, including pharmacists, nurses, midwives and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health workers, to administer the vaccine in a wider range of settings such as clinics, workplaces and community locations.

Queensland’s Chief Health Officer, Dr Marianne Gale, said vaccination played an important role in reducing illness and pressure on the health system.

“No one wants to be stuck in bed, or in hospital, missing work, school, family events or holidays, and that’s why prevention matters,” she said.

While flu vaccination has long been recommended for people from six months of age, the expanded program means more Queenslanders will now be eligible to receive the vaccine at no cost.

Last year, Queensland recorded close to 100,000 influenza cases and more than 300 flu-related deaths, with most severe cases occurring among people who were not vaccinated.

Moreton Bay residents will be able to access the free vaccine through local GPs, pharmacies and community health providers once the program begins, with availability varying by provider.