Health system coughs up almost $50b fighting COVID

Australia spent $27.9 billion on primary care during the pandemic, including rolling out vaccines. (Dan Himbrechts/AAP PHOTOS)

Australia's health system dropped a whopping $48 billion on the COVID-19 response, as authorities warn of an alarming drop off in vaccination rates.

The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) found 7.2 per cent of overall health spending was focused on COVID between 2019-20 and 2021-22.