COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy and misinformation have further contributed to the decline, with some Australians questioning vaccine efficacy or feeling discouraged from vaccination.

The 2025 flu season in Australia is the worst on record, with over 410,000 cases reported, surpassing the previous high of 365,000 in 2024, and affecting about 1.5% of the population.

This surge is largely driven by declining vaccination rates, with only 25.7% of children aged six months to five years vaccinated— the lowest since 2021— and vaccination among seniors over 65 dropping to 60.5%, the lowest since 2020.

Health professionals emphasize the importance of open communication with patients about vaccine concerns and urge reliance on healthcare advice rather than social media misinformation.

In response, health authorities in Queensland and New South Wales are planning to introduce nasal spray flu vaccines for children to boost coverage and herd immunity ahead of the upcoming flu season.

The decline in vaccination rates is partly attributed to the anti-vax movement, which gained momentum during the COVID-19 pandemic, leading to decreased trust and confidence in vaccines, with trust levels dropping from 93.8% pre-pandemic to 86.3% in 2021-22.

Experts cite decreased vaccination and increased international travel, especially to the northern hemisphere, as key factors fueling the record-breaking flu cases.

The Australian Medical Association highlights the concerning drop in both flu and COVID-19 booster vaccinations, despite current vaccines being over 98% effective against circulating strains.

Social media, misinformation, and political criticism, including from figures like Robert F. Kennedy Jr., have fueled anti-vaccination sentiment, impacting vaccination uptake.

In October alone, confirmed flu cases exceeded 13,000, nearly 50% higher than the same period last year, indicating an accelerating trend.

There is a push for policy changes, such as making free intranasal (needle-free) flu vaccines available for children, with some Australian states adopting this ahead of 2026 to improve vaccination rates.