Free Flu Jabs Will Be Offered To Young Queenslanders In 2018

The Queensland Government has announced a new vaccination program for children aged six months to five years old, following one of the worst flu seasons the state has seen in recent years.

$1 million will be invested so 300,000 kids across the state can access an influenza vaccination for free in 2018. Minister for Health Cameron Dick said of all the vaccine preventable diseases, influenza causes the most hospital admissions of children under five years old.

"So far this year, 544 children under five admitted to hospital have tested positive for influenza. We also know that children contribute greatly to the spread of the flu in the community, and the risks of serious complications for kids who contract the flu are high," he said.

"Queensland has this year endured its worst fly season in many years, more than 52,000 lab-confirmed cases of influenza have been recorded and more than 5600 patients admitted to hospital have tested positive."

Dick said there will also be a push to include the free flu jab on the National Immunisation Program.

For more info on the vaccine and how your child can receive one, visit the Queensland Health website.