Influenza is a highly contagious disease that can spread through talking, coughing and sneezing. It causes deaths and hospitalisations in Australia each year and Queenslanders are not immune. 

We encourage you to talk to your GP or health clinic about your eligibility for free vaccine – it is also free to Queenslanders 65 years and older, pregnant women and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

The flu season varies from year to year and is generally influenced by what’s been happening in colder climates overseas. For example, the flu season in the northern hemisphere starts in the fall, or Autumn and peaks in January or February. In Australia the flu season often starts slightly earlier in Tasmania and Victoria and then hits Queensland around late May, peaking in August. In Far North Queensland the season can start even later. By October the worst is usually behind us.

However it’s important to remember influenza can occur at any time of the year which is why it’s important to get vaccinated every 12 months as the effectiveness of the vaccine gradually wanes.