GPs take flu prevention message to Queensland Parliament

Queensland GPs gathered at State Parliament this week to deliver flu vaccinations and sound advice ahead of this year’s flu season. 
  
Representatives from RACGP Queensland, including faculty Chair Dr Cath Hester, took part in the seasonal flu prevention event to support public health preparedness, reduce the impact of seasonal influenza, and highlight practical actions that help protect individuals, workplaces and the broader community. 
 
Bringing parliamentarians on board was an important way to role-model the type of health behaviours being encouraged in communities as well as reinforcing public health messages within electorates. 
 
Held at Parliament House in Brisbane, on Turrbal and Jagera Country, GPs at the pop-up clinic were available throughout the day to answer flu questions and administer vaccinations. 
 
Dr Hester said the event was a success and an opportunity to raise awareness about flu prevention and the important role of GPs. 
 
‘Preventive health is a vital element of our health system, and the RACGP is keen to take every opportunity to raise awareness of all the important work GPs do every day in our communities to help keep people healthy,’ she told newsGP.  
 
‘GPs are the key driving force in keeping our communities well and supporting vaccination rates in particular. We vaccinate more people every year than all other providers combined.  
 
‘The continuity of care and the whole-person approach we provide are key to this success, and should never be diminished or reduced by fragmentation.’ 
 
The Queensland flu prevention initiative comes ahead of World Immunisation Week and amid growing concerns over declining vaccination coverage. 
 
‘GPs across the country are busy driving vaccination rates, especially in the lead up to the winter season,’ Dr Hester said.  
 
‘We are planning vaccination clinics, providing opportunistic vaccinations, and acting as trusted advisors for families.  
 
‘Over the last few years, we’ve seen that access alone does not drive vaccination rates. Trust, and having a GP who knows you, understands your health history, and can provide overarching preventive care is what truly keeps people well and away from EDs and hospitals.’ 
 
Last year marked the highest number of deaths (1701) associated with flu this century, according to the Australian Burreau of Statistics, and there were 502,972 lab-confirmed flu cases.  

RACGP Queensland is hoping to turn last year’s trend around, focusing efforts on public awareness of flu prevention and encouraging conversations about vaccination. 
 
College President Dr Michael Wright described the 2025 as a ‘horror flu year’.  
 
‘That likely contributed to the surge in demand on our hospitals we saw in 2025, and unacceptable ambulance ramping when hospitals couldn’t cope as a result,’ he said. 
 
‘No one wants to see that again. Not parents, and not the state and territory governments which run our public hospitals.’ 
 
This week’s pop-up clinic was undertaken by the RACGP in partnership with CSL Seqirus. 
 
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