In 2024, there were 30,494 cases, and in 2023, there were 18,582 cases in the same period.

“It doesn’t necessarily need to be a record flu season for it to be important,” she said.

In January, 16 Australians died from the flu, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics.

Impacts of the flu

While the flu is predominantly a respiratory infection, it can have impacts on “basically the whole body”, Griffin said.

Young children, older adults, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, people with chronic medical conditions, immunocompromised people and smokers are at greater risk of severe illness or complications. But adults who don’t belong to these groups can also experience these issues.

“The flow-on effect of that is that people who need to seek primary care or go to hospital then struggle to get those issues addressed,” Griffin said

Why aren’t more Australians getting vaccinated?

This year, 8.2 per cent have been vaccinated so far.

“We know that flu vaccination is a habit, and once you start that habit, you tend to continue with it,” Leask said.

Vaccination rates for the flu have been trending downwards in Australia in recent years. Source: Getty / Witthaya Prasongsin

Myths about the flu vaccine

“But what we know is that no matter what happens when you get the flu after you’re vaccinated, it’s going to help at least a little bit in terms of reducing the severity, perhaps duration, and perhaps the ability to pass it on. There’s a whole host of benefits.”