The drop in vaccination rates is causing experts to warn about rising risk from Covid.
People in Australia are being advised to be alert because falling vaccination rates could increase the chances of a new highly infectious variant spreading.
A new subvariant, NB.1.8.1 which was found on January 21, is now responsible for increasing Covid-19 cases in China, Hong Kong and Taiwan. It is now the most common strain in Western Australia and has contributed to a rise of 24% in cases.
Dr. Griffin, an infectious diseases specialist at Mater Hospital, said that the latest Covid vaccination numbers are the lowest he has seen since the start of the vaccine program five years ago.
“The number of Covid-19 vaccinations has slowed,” explained Prof Griffin. The virus is still active and can seriously threaten those who are especially susceptible such as the elderly and those with weakened immune systems.
He advises people at high risk to get a yearly Covid booster, as they do with the seasonal flu shot. Since winter starts next week, health experts recommend getting vaccinated right now and it’s safe to receive the Covid and flu vaccines at once.
Omicron subvariant NB.1.8.1 is one of hundreds and seems to be boosting the number of infections and hospitalizations in Asia and Western Australia.
“Receiving this booster helps protect you, is safe and could make your symptoms less severe,” said Prof Griffin.
Although the booster is free in Queensland, only around 250,000 people have been vaccinated so far.
As cases of flu rise, there have been more than 2,000 hospitalisations in the state this year, a 30% jump from what was seen in the same period in 2024. This pressure on hospitals is being worsened by higher Covid and RSV cases. Almost 1,500 people are being treated for RSV in hospitals and those ro at extreme ends of the generational spectrum are being affected the most.
A vaccine against RSV can be given to pregnant women to guard their babies for the first six months after birth.
This means that, since the pandemic, too many kids are not being vaccinated against a range of diseases.
According to Professor Beadon from the Grattan Institute, the share of children vaccinated against polio has fallen every year since 2020. Coverage for National Immunisation Schedule vaccines was lower in 2024 than in 2020.
Worldwide, the number of measles cases increased by 20% last year.
In the past, Australia was able to control diseases such as polio through vaccination, but that achievement could now disappear, according to Prof Beadon.
