WA set to fall short of vaccination target as free flu jabs come to an end

Western Australia is set to miss its vaccination targets for the upcoming flu season despite efforts to boost immunisation rates through a free vaccination program that has now concluded. The state’s health department had aimed to achieve a 40 per cent overall vaccination rate, protect 30 per cent of children under 12, and ensure 65 per cent of residents over 65 receive the jab. However, recent figures show these goals remain unmet, raising concerns about public health preparedness for the winter months. The latest data, released on Monday, indicates that only 28 per cent of the state’s population has been vaccinated against the flu, significantly below the 40 per cent benchmark. Among seniors aged 65 and older, the vaccination rate stands at around 59 per cent, just over 6 percentage points shy of the target. For children aged six months to 12 years, the rate is approximately 23.5 per cent, missing the 30 per cent goal by nearly 6.5 percentage points. The free vaccination initiative, which ran until recently, was launched after the state faced its worst flu season since at least 2001 last year. Officials attributed the severity of that outbreak partly to low vaccination levels. To address this, the government implemented a comprehensive strategy involving financial support for private hospitals, expanded access to vaccines through pharmacies, and introduced alternative delivery methods such as the needle-free FluMist nasal spray for children. A spokesperson for the Western Australian government stated that efforts to improve accessibility had led to a noticeable rise in childhood vaccinations. They noted that almost half of the children receiving FluMist this year had not been vaccinated against influenza in previous years. As of 26 July, more than 860,000 Western Australians had received the flu shot, with influenza notifications and hospitalisations for the year to date remaining below the five-year average. Despite these improvements, the spokesperson acknowledged that respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) notifications and hospitalisations were higher than usual. This prompted a renewed call for vulnerable groups, infants, pregnant women, and individuals over 75, to take advantage of the free RSV vaccination. Over 100,000 Western Australians have already received the RSV vaccine this year, compared to fewer than 20,000 in the previous year. Katie Attwell, a vaccination policy researcher at the University of Western Australia, emphasized the challenges inherent in achieving high vaccination rates. She noted that while reaching targets is difficult, it is crucial for governments to set ambitious goals to drive collective action. “Governments must commit fully to these objectives,” she said, adding that such commitments help mobilise resources and create systems that facilitate easier access to vaccines. Opposition health spokesperson Libby Mettam expressed disappointment with the current situation, stating that the government should have initiated the flu vaccination campaign earlier to allow for greater flexibility and accessibility. She argued that an earlier start could have provided more options for the public and potentially improved vaccination outcomes. Health officials continue to monitor the situation closely, noting that this year’s flu season has been relatively mild compared to the previous one. Between January and June, approximately 5,340 flu cases were reported to WA Health, roughly a third of the 16,495 infections recorded during the same period last year. While this suggests some improvement, the ongoing challenge lies in ensuring sustained engagement and participation from all segments of the population to meet future vaccination goals.