Vaccine rates fall as 2025 marks worst flu year on record
The worst flu season on record has been recorded in Australia as vaccine hesitancy remains a major concern for doctors.
Adjusted for population, 2025 has been the country’s worst year for lab-confirmed flu cases.
Four states have committed to free nasal spray vaccinations for kids next year that the Royal Australian College of GPs says is key for parents who get distressed seeing their children scared of needles.
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By continuing you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.“This is not a record we want to be breaking, we must boost vaccination rates and reverse this trend,” college president Michael Wright said.
“We must fight complacency and get more jabs in arms to help keep as many patients as possible out of hospital and ensure that next year’s flu case number figures are heading in the right direction.
“Getting vaccinated not only help keeps yourself as safe as possible but also your friends and family members. This should act as a wake-up call to all patients across Australia.”
The latest national figures show 2025 is the worst year on record for influenza. Per 100,000 people, 1.5 per cent had a lab-confirmed infection. This equates to more than 411,000 cases and a 12.5 per cent increase on last year’s all-time high.
Barely 25 per cent of kids aged six months to five years were vaccinated this year, and vaccination rates for over 60s have also fallen to 60.5 per cent.
The Royal College of GPs is urging the other states and territories to follow Queensland, NSW, Western Australia and South Australia and commit to free nasal vaccinations for children next year.
“Needle-free vaccinations make such a difference,” Dr Wright said.
“The vaccination rate for young children, who are at increased risk of contracting a severe flu infection, has fallen to just one in four and they’re also coming down with influenza more often than any other patient group.”
The nasal vaccine had been successfully used in the UK, Italy, Finland and Spain, Dr Wright said.
“Many kids are fearful of needles, which can stall vaccination efforts – particularly as two-thirds of parents say the distress they feel when thinking about vaccinating their child acts as a barrier.”
NSW was hardest hit by influenza this year, recording more than 153,000 cases so far, streaks ahead of Victoria’s 95,480 cases.
Nationwide, a disproportionate 10.9 per cent of cases were in kids under five, and one-third of cases were in children younger than 15.
Originally published as Vaccine rates fall as 2025 marks worst flu year on record
