GPs bring free flu jabs to Ekka

Ekka-goers have rolled up their sleeves for a free flu jab, as the RACGP teams up with Queensland Health to bolster the state’s vaccination rates.
 
Celebrating its 150th year in 2026, the iconic show is Queensland’s largest annual event with more than 400,000 people visiting each year.
 
To make the occasion, GPs have joined the show’s Queensland Health Ekka Flu Vaccination Clinic – a pop-up providing attendees with access to free influenza vaccinations. 
 
RACGP Queensland Chair Dr Cath Hester was at the clinic on Tuesday, and said the initiative is also an important awareness-raising opportunity for GPs to speak to patients about the importance of annual flu vaccination and preventive healthcare. 
 
‘It’s such a fun day at the office – we’ve vaccinated lots of patrons of Ekka so far and they’ve all been really pleased that it’s been such an easy process and how convenient it is to have GPs here,’ she told newsGP.
 
‘When people are dropping in, we’re taking the opportunity to have a talk to them about how they can see their usual GP for preventive health advice and talk about some of the other vaccines that they might be eligible for.
 
‘It’s a good opportunity for us to reinforce the importance of having a regular GP and that GPs are the main providers of preventive healthcare.’
 
Dr Hester said the volunteers on site have also been ‘flying the flag for GPs’ and their role in administering flu vaccines across Australia.
 
Already this flu season, Queensland GPs have delivered more than 1.5 million influenza vaccinations, accounting for 57% of all flu vaccinations administered across the state. 
 
It comes as almost 74,000 cases of flu have already been reported across Australia this year, with 14,000 of those being in Queensland.
 
RACGP members and staff will be at the pop-up clinics across multiple days of Ekka, including on 11, 12, and 15 August, working alongside Queensland Health personnel and other healthcare partners. 
 
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Ekka flu influenza Queensland Health vaccination vaccine