The Department of Health has announced that the number of Western Australians who have received the influenza vaccine this winter has passed a million.
The Department said the Free Jab June and July program had helped boost the vaccination total.
It said that to date, more than 1,036,000 people had received an influenza vaccination — 37 per cent of the State’s population.
Minister for Health, Amber-Jade Sanderson said WA was on track to achieve its greatest influenza vaccine coverage this year.
“In previous years, only certain cohorts were offered free influenza vaccinations under existing State and Commonwealth programs,” Ms Sanderson said.
“More Western Australians than ever before have taken up the opportunity to protect themselves against the flu this winter, thanks to our free vaccination program.”
She said that so far this year, 1,366 people with influenza had been admitted to hospital with a total of more than 10,000 influenza cases notified to her Department.
“That is why we are still encouraging everyone six months and above to get their influenza vaccination, it’s your best protection against the virus,” the Minister said.
Premier, Mark McGowan said that less than 20 per cent of Western Australians were vaccinated for the flu before the free program started in June.
“In less than two months we’re on track to beat WA’s previous record of 37 per cent during 2020,” Mr McGowan said.
