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Posted 23 March 2023 AM
The Australian flu season appears to have hit two months early with a sharp rise in cases in March prompting CSL Seqirus to accelerate availability of its private market influenza vaccines.
According to the latest data from the Department of Health, there have been more than 13,500 confirmed flu cases as of yesterday (22 March). In 2022, this volume of lab confirmed cases wasn't seen until early May.
CSL Seqirus will be supplying more than eight million flu vaccines to private vaccination providers and the National Immunisation Program (NIP).
The company's Director, Influenza Natasha Rees said this year flu vaccines are being provided early to help protect those who want to be vaccinated.
"Flu is unpredictable so we never know exactly when the season might begin or when cases might peak," Rees said.
"Vaccination typically begins in April to allow enough time for people to be vaccinated prior to the season but we're pleased to have accelerated supply so that our vaccines are available now to private vaccination providers.
"Our other influenza vaccines are available on the NIP and will become available through GPs and pharmacists when the states roll out the NIP program."
According to the latest overseas arrivals data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics, international arrivals hit 1.61 million in January, the highest figure since the pandemic forced border closures in 2020.
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CSL Seqirus Medical Director of Vaccines and Biosecurity, Julianne Bayliss, said that seasonal flu can be sparked by travellers visiting, or returning from the Northern Hemisphere.
"The volume of cases we're seeing so far this year is more comparable to the patterns of circulation we saw prior to the COVID-19 pandemic and the recent increases in international travel may be contributing," she said.
"With cases already on the increase in 2023, it's important that Australians talk to their GP or pharmacist about flu prevention options including vaccination."
In line with recommendations from the World Health Organization (WHO) and Australian Influenza Vaccine Committee, all 2023 flu vaccines contain four vaccine strains, including two A and two B strains.
Bayliss said Australian GPs, scientists, experts and industry are on the front line of the global response to flu.
"During the season, clinics and hospitals across the country send flu samples to the WHO Collaborating Centre for Reference and Research on Influenza (WHO CCRI) in Melbourne," she said.
"The WHO CCRI uses those samples to make recommendations about what strains should be included in the vaccine. We rely on those recommendations to manufacture vaccines across our network, including at our Parkville site in Melbourne.
"We're also continuing to innovate in influenza vaccine technology and are currently building a new state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Tullamarine, Melbourne. The facility is expected to be operational from 2026."
Christine Spiteri
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