Victoria, New South Wales, South Australia, Western Australia and Queensland will offer free flu vaccines this winter to its residents. The move reminds us once again that making medicine free isn’t actually that difficult.
Victoria and NSW announced a “month-long blitz” this week starting from June 1 as what’s expected to be a severe influenza season kicks off.
Anyone over six months of age will be eligible and vaccines will be available in GP clinics and pharmacies.
Flu case numbers in Victoria increased in the past week from 10,000 to 15,000 reported infections. This is more than the combined number of reported case numbers from the past two years. Yikes.
“What this will do is make it easier and more accessible for everyone else to come forward and get that free vaccination to keep themselves safe in the face of what looks like a really nasty flu season,” Vic Health Minister Martin Foley said on Tuesday.
NSW chief health officer Dr Kerry Chant
