Disclaimer: The information in this article is for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Everyone’s health is unique, so it’s always best to consult a qualified healthcare professional if you have any concerns or questions about your health. We encourage you to seek expert guidance before making any medical decisions.
As the mercury drops and winter’s chill settles in, Australians are facing a flu season that’s not just early—it’s hitting harder than many can remember. If you’ve ever shrugged off the flu as ‘just a bad cold’, this year’s wave might make you think again.
Across the country, people are reporting more severe symptoms, longer recovery times, and a healthcare system struggling to keep up with demand.
Take Mikaela, a 23-year-old Sydney resident who did everything right. She rolled up her sleeve for her annual flu jab, hoping to dodge the worst of the season. But just weeks later, she was floored by a bout of influenza that left her sicker than she’d ever been.
‘It was actually quite shocking how bad it was,’ Mikaela shared. ‘I’ve never been sick like that before.’
Her symptoms included a painful, dry cough that triggered an asthma attack (despite asthma being a minor, underlying condition for her), severe sinus pain, congestion, and crushing fatigue—at one point, she slept for 14 hours straight.
Mikaela’s story is far from unique. She was so unwell she had to take a week off her first full-time job, and when she tried to see her GP, the earliest appointment was days away.
With no Telehealth option, she braved two buses into the city, only to be prescribed heavy-duty medications, including codeine cough syrup and a steroid inhaler. Even after three weeks, she was still battling lingering symptoms.
A nation under the weather
Mikaela’s experience is a snapshot of a much bigger problem. Australia is in the grip of an intense and unusually early flu season.
The National Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System has already logged over 92,000 lab-confirmed influenza cases nationwide, and winter has only just begun.
Telehealth platform Updoc reports a staggering 134 per cent increase in flu-like consultation requests in May 2025 compared to last year.
The most vulnerable—Australians over 65—are being hit especially hard, with every state and territory seeing at least a 100 per cent jump in appointments for flu symptoms.
Dr Jamie Phillips, chief medical officer at Updoc and an emergency department doctor in Queensland, said the surge is no surprise.
‘Post-COVID, seasonal flu is resurging aggressively due to low community immunity and delayed vaccine uptake,’ he explained.
‘I’m seeing more patients in ED with flu-like symptoms, many of whom can’t access their usual GP or have been told not to come in due to respiratory symptoms.’
He stressed that influenza is not a benign illness—early intervention can reduce time off work and, more importantly, save lives.
So, what’s behind this year’s brutal flu season? Experts say it’s a perfect storm of factors:
- Low community immunity: After years of social distancing and mask-wearing, our collective defences against the flu have dropped.
- Delayed or skipped vaccinations: Many are postponing their flu shots due to pandemic fatigue and confusion about vaccine schedules.
- Behavioural changes: Increased travel, more social gatherings, and a return to pre-pandemic routines mean the virus is spreading faster and further.
- Unpredictable virus strains: Influenza A and B are the main culprits, but each year brings a different mix of subtypes, making it hard to predict which will dominate.
Professor Patrick Reading, director of the World Health Organization Collaborating Centre for Reference and Research on Influenza, pointed out: ‘We can’t currently predict the severity of the upcoming season in Australia. It depends on which virus subtype becomes dominant.’
While anyone can catch the flu, certain groups are at higher risk of severe illness and complications:
- People over 65
- Young children
- Pregnant women
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
- Those with chronic health conditions (like asthma, diabetes, or heart disease)
If you fall into one of these categories—or care for someone who does—experts urge you to get vaccinated now more than ever.
COVID-19: Still lurking in the shadows
As if the flu wasn’t enough, a new COVID-19 subvariant, NB.1.8.1, is making its presence felt in Victoria, New South Wales (NSW), and Western Australia.
While current data suggests it’s not causing more severe illness than previous strains, its rapid spread is raising concerns among health authorities.
The latest NSW Respiratory Surveillance Report shows COVID-19 and flu activity are both on the rise, with COVID-19 test positivity climbing to 5.7 per cent in mid-May.
The healthcare system under pressure
Mikaela’s struggle to get a timely GP appointment is a story many Australians know all too well.
With GPs booked out and some clinics still limiting in-person visits for respiratory symptoms, many are turning to emergency departments or Telehealth services. This puts extra strain on a system already stretched thin.
If you’re having trouble accessing care, consider:
- Pharmacies: Many now offer flu vaccinations and can advise on managing mild symptoms.
- Telehealth: If your regular GP is unavailable, Telehealth platforms can connect you with a doctor for advice and prescriptions.
- Healthdirect: The government’s Healthdirect service (1800 022 222) offers free health advice 24/7.
Have you or someone you know been struck by this year’s flu season? Have you struggled to get a GP appointment? Or maybe you’ve found a great way to stay healthy during winter?
We’d love to hear your experiences and tips. Share your story in the comments below and help our community stay informed and connected.
Also read: Spike in flu cases sparks urgent call for more jabs before winter
Despite my having the Seniors Flu jab in April (I am 73), I can concur with the magnitude of the Flu symptoms this year. I haven’t had a cold since pre COVID but am in the middle of a bout at present. It is a doozy.
It started in the throat, as it always does for me, then wended its way into an earache, before developing a bit of a runny nose. I waited a week to see if my immune system could handle it without meds but it was not to be. 9 days on, I still have a sore throat, with lots of yucky phlegm every morning and endless coughing. Add to that a total lack of energy and it has made resulted in too many days without the ability to achieve much, which I majorly dislike. I threw in the towel two days ago and was given antibiotics which are only just beginning to take effect. I hate to think how bad it might have been had I NOT been given the jab. Take care everyone,
Its amazing how with coincidence that a person that had th flu shot is so sick. Imagine if you will where you dont get the flu shot and you dont have thaat poison pumped into your system, and you dont get half as sick. These flu shots influenced by Doctors and not tested by big pharma are doing you more harm than good. Statistics will bear this out, yet Doctors are making money off your misery and false promises as there has never ben a test where a placibo is given to a control group to test to see what complictions there are for receiving the flu shot. Its no more than money making venture influenced by th WHO and blindly followed by Doctors that dont have the knowledge and expertise to understand the damage they are doing. Do no harm is the mantra of Doctors, yet here we are harming people for absolutely no reason or gain other than monetary.
Tom: A quick search returned the following with respect to the Flu Vaccine in Australia :-
The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) approves and regulates influenza vaccines for use in Australia. For the 2025 season, quadrivalent influenza vaccines (QIVs) are the only vaccines available, and they are primarily recommended for use in children 6 months and older. Specific brands include Vaxigrip Tetra, Flucelvax Quad, Influvac Tetra, Afluria Quad, and Fluad Quad.
TGA Approval Process and Guidelines:
Registration:
The TGA assesses vaccines based on their safety, efficacy, and quality before they can be registered for use in Australia.
Clinical Trials:
A new seasonal influenza vaccine generally requires evidence of efficacy in a placebo-controlled trial or non-inferior immunogenicity in comparison to an existing registered vaccine.
Benefit-Risk Assessment:
The TGA evaluates the potential benefits of a vaccine against its potential risks, ensuring that the benefits outweigh the risks for the intended population.
Quadrivalent Vaccines:
Quadrivalent vaccines are preferred due to their ability to target four different influenza strains, offering broader protection.
AIVC Recommendations:
The Australian Influenza Vaccine Committee (AIVC) provides advice to the TGA on the composition of the seasonal influenza vaccine each year. They align their recommendations with the World Health Organisation (WHO) recommendations.