Influenza has emerged as the leading cause of death among respiratory illnesses in Australia.
New data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics has raised concerns about the vaccination uptake before winter.
COVID-19 has been the leading cause of acute respiratory infection related mortality since 2020.
In January 2026, influenza overtook COVID-19, marking a shift in Australia’s post-pandemic health landscape.
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2026
Health professionals have warned that the public may be underestimating the severity of the virus.
Illawarra Pharmacy Dispensary Technician, Cailyn Knill said influenza is often misunderstood.
“Anecdotally, people say oh I’ve got the flu. But influenza A/B, whichever subtype you get, is very different from just a normal head cold and can be life-threatening in a lot of instances,” she said.
Despite this, vaccination rates remain relatively low.
Data from the National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance (NCIRS) has shown that only around 30 per cent of Australians received a flu vaccine in 2025, with uptake was particularly limited amongst younger people.
Ms Knill said this trend is reflected in pharmacies, where demand is driven by older generations.
“We don’t tend to have heaps of walk-ins that are young adult to middle age, unless it’s work related, so they work in healthcare or anything like that, or it’s covered by their company,” she said.
She added that for various reasons, there was hesitation when it comes to getting the vaccine, which may be contributing to a decline in vaccination rate.
Source: Department of Health, Disability and Ageing, 2026
“Anti-vax beliefs, non-mainstream advice, expressions that they don’t feel that the flu would affect them that badly, that it’s not targeted at them because they’re not a demographic of risk, but you can still be helpful in lowering transmission rates throughout the community.” Ms Knill said.
NSW Minister for Health, Ryan Park has urged people to get vaccinated before the start of winter.
“The influenza vaccine is the best chance of protection against serious illness and I urge everyone in NSW to protect themselves and their families this winter,” Mr Park said.
With peak flu season approaching, many health professionals like Ms Knill, are pushing for uptake among broader demographics, particularly young Australians, to reduce transmission.
