Tens of thousands of South Australians have done their bit and taken advantage of a free flu shot – and there’s still time to roll up your sleeves.
With a fortnight to go in the free flu vax program, the Malinauskas Labor Government is urging people to head to their GP or pharmacy, get vaccinated and protect themselves against influenza this winter.
Latest figures show at the halfway point of the campaign, which was launched 28 May, a total of 146,114 people have received a vaccination in the first two weeks of the free flu rollout.
A total of 41% per cent of eligible South Australians are now protected, with big boosts in the number of children aged 5 years or younger receiving their jabs since the campaign was launched (7,196 doses recorded); people under the age of 65 (109,890 doses recorded); and those aged over 65 (29,028 doses recorded).
SA Health has launched a social media and radio ad campaign this week to boost numbers further and make sure as many people as possible are aware of the program, targeting hard-to-reach demographics that are yet to get their jab.
The campaign runs until the end of the month and encourages everyone – including at-risk groups – to take up their free flu vaccination.
This follows the release of the state’s first winter demand strategy in four years, with 80 more hospital beds being opened to create capacity for flu patients. That’s on top of the 180 beds already opened by the Malinauskas Labor Government to create capacity for COVID patients.
Quotes
Attributable to Chris Picton
We know this winter is going to be severe in terms of both COVID and flu cases.
Our hospitals are already under extreme pressure with COVID, flu and normal winter demand.
I urge South Australians to book your appointment at your GP or your pharmacy and get your free flu jab.
You have a fortnight to get your jab before the State Government’s free flu vaccinations end.
You don’t want to end up in hospital this winter. And you don’t want to put vulnerable family members at risk.
Let’s all work to protect our doctors, nurses and hospital staff, and protect our hospital system.
As of 27 May 2022, the Australian Immunisation Register (AIR) shows the following data for SA:
| Age groups (private and government funded) | Total doses recorded | % of eligible population |
|---|---|---|
| 6 months to less than 5 years | 12,575 | 13% |
| 5 years to less than 65 years | 321,033 | 24% |
| 65 years and older | 241,921 | 69% |
| TOTAL | 575,529 | 32% |
As of 14 Jun 2022, the AIR shows the following data for SA:
| Age groups (private and government funded) | Total doses recorded | % of eligible population |
|---|---|---|
| 6 months to less than 5 years | 19,771 | 21% |
| 5 years to less than 65 years | 430,923 | 32% |
| 65 years and older | 270,949 | 77% |
| TOTAL | 721,643 | 41% |
