The WA State Government has today (April 21) announced that it will fund the 2023 influenza vaccine for WA residents for a month from May 1.

We’re now two years post COVID-19 peak, but making sure your vaccines for both COVID and influenza are up to date is still of paramount importance.

And while pharmacies Australia wide are providing more vaccines to the community, 2023 statistics show that the uptake of the influenza vaccine is down on previous years, while WA’s influenza notifications were significantly higher in March 2023 with total of 706 confirmed cases compared to 223 in March 2020.

The current flu season is building and is likely to have a significant impact on the WA community.

With the widespread wearing of masks and use of hand sanitisers now a distant memory, the importance of vaccinations to proactively protect your health has never been more important.

Australia may even have an autumn surge. This occurred last year when influenza cases rose sharply in May and peaked by June. That’s two months earlier than the five-year average pre-COVID.

Your body needs at least two weeks post vaccination to build up antibodies to protect you, so if less people are immunised, there’s less herd immunity and more circulating viruses which people will be susceptible to.

With people on the move again, COVID-19 is still spreading aggressively through the community, but as there’s no longer a mandatory isolation period in place, unless you work in aged care or hospitals, there is less protection from person-to-person transmission.

And while people are still getting vaccinated for COVID-19, many are also experiencing vaccination fatigue, which can delay their decision to book in for a booster shot or annual flu vaccine to protect them and the community.

At Pharmacy 777 we recommend that you get your flu vaccine as soon as possible. And if you have a cold or the flu, please wear a mask, use hand sanitiser, and stay home from work or school. 

The cold and flu season for 2023 will continue to build from this point on, so please prioritise an appointment in May so you can protect yourself, your family, and the greater community.

Pharmacy 777 can facilitate walk-in appointments, or you can book ahead at any of our pharmacies to secure your time.

The message is simple... the sooner you’re vaccinated the better, so make your appointment now to better protect yourself, your family, and your community this winter.

Kim Brotherson, Managing Director Pharmacy 777

For more information on the free flu vaccination see the full media statement. 

Book you flu vaccination at a Pharmacy 777 here.