For the first time in the State’s history, the Government is to provide free flu shots to all South Australians in a significant move to ease pressure on hospitals.
Announcing the plan, Premier, Peter Malinauskas said South Australia was facing the prospect of the combined spread of COVID-19 and influenza during winter for the first time.
“From now through to 30 June, all South Australians will be able to access the influenza vaccine for free,” Mr Malinauskas said.
“The free jabs will be funded via a subsidy scheme for South Australian GPs and pharmacists,” he said.
Mr Malinauskas said that in an additional move to encourage more children to get vaccinated, pharmacies around South Australia were also now permitted to administer flu vaccinations to children aged five to nine years of age.
He said previously only children aged 10 and above were eligible.
The Premier said the latest statistics showed that so far this year there had been 1,195 confirmed cases of influenza in South Australia, compared with 12 cases for the same period last year.
“About 30 per cent of South Australians have received their influenza vaccination since 1 March,” he said.
“There is an estimated 938,000 South Australians who are not already eligible for free influenza vaccination who have yet to receive the jab.
“The dual challenge of broad community spread of COVID-19 and influenza at the same time during winter threatens to put further pressure on a hospital system already facing significant demand.
“We must do everything we can to ensure as many South Australians as possible are immunised against both COVID and influenza to ease pressure on our hospitals,” Mr Malinauskas said.
