The 2025 flu season has arrived early, with confirmed cases already outpacing averages for this time last year. This has significant implications for general practice and community settings.

Why are flu rates higher this year?

There are a number of contributing factors driving this year’s spike in influenza cases. These include:

• Waning population immunity, partly due to low flu activity and vaccination uptake in recent years
• Changes in public behaviour, including vaccine complacency, a reduced perception of the need for annual vaccinations, and practical barriers to accessing a vaccination site
• Vaccine misinformation, which continues to impact confidence in flu and COVID-19 vaccination programs.

These challenges offer an important opportunity for health professionals to re-engage patients in vaccine conversations. Remind patients that protection from previous vaccinations wanes over time, and that annual influenza vaccines are updated to target the most common strains expected each season. 

When is the best time to get vaccinated?

April and May remain the best time to administer the flu vaccine, ideally ahead of the peak season in June and July. Immunity takes approximately two weeks to develop, so early vaccination provides the best window for protection – particularly for older adults, young children, and people with chronic health conditions. 

Priority groups

It’s important to prioritise vulnerable groups who are most at risk of serious illness from influenza. These include:

• Adults aged 65 years and over
• Children aged under 5 years
• People with chronic conditions, including respiratory, cardiac and metabolic disorders
• Pregnant women (who may also be eligible for RSV vaccination).

Practices can prioritise these groups through:

• Opportunistic discussions during consultations
• SMS campaigns or recall systems targeting priority patients
• Posters and resources in waiting rooms and outside clinics.

Don’t forget children under 5

According to national data, only one in four children were vaccinated last year. A recent study by the National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance (NCIRS) identified both structural and attitudinal barriers among parents. This presents a critical opportunity for GPs to talk and raise awareness with parents about the risks of influenza in young children. 

Offering opportunistic vaccinations

For eligible patients, a flu vaccination can also provide a good opportunity to offer a COVID-19 booster vaccination, especially among those at higher risk of severe illness. COVID vaccines can be safely co-administered with flu vaccines, providing additional protection leading into the colder months. 

You may also consider discussing the RSV vaccination where appropriate, especially for pregnant women, with the maternal RSV vaccine now free under the National Immunisation Program (NIP).

Billing and MBS information

Here are some key billing considerations:

• GPs can only bill for the time they spend face-to-face with a patient for the flu vaccination. A routine flu examination would generally be a level A.
• If combining with any other medical issue, you can bill a level B
• If providing advice and/or administering a COVID-19 vaccine, item 93644 can also be billed
• Practice nurses can bill item 10997 for patients with a current GP management plan for a chronic condition such as diabetes, respiratory or cardiac disease who would benefit from the flu vaccination.
• Item 10990 can also be added for eligible patients.
  

Please visit MBS online for further information.

Further information and resources

• Australian Immunisation Handbook
• Department of Health
• Better Health Channel
• OneLink for vaccine ordering information and logistics