Flu season 2023

Flu season 2023:
– The 2023 influenza season was characterised by an early peak and longer duration, but overall lower clinical severity and societal impact, than many pre-COVID-19 pandemic influenza seasons
– vaccination coverage was low overall in 2023, especially in children, and severe
presentations to sentinel hospitals in children were reported throughout the season
– there were 252,296 notifications of laboratory-confirmed influenza cases, 376 influenza associated deaths (median age 76 years); and 3,696 sentinel hospital admissions
– Children aged 05–09 years had the highest influenza notification rates followed by children aged 0–04 years. The notification rate was lowest among adults aged 70–74 years.
– Influenza vaccine coverage rates were lower in 2023 (at 32% overall) than in 2022 (39%), and lower overall in First Nations peoples (24%).
– vaccine coverage in children was low (21% in under 5 yo)
– 72% of hospitalisations reported by sentinel hospitals were in children under 16 (although sentinel admissions may overestimate hospital admissions nationwide for children under 16)

Categories: Flu
Author: Agnes
Entry Date: 5/4/2024
Source 1 Name: Department of Health and Aged Care. Australian Influenza Surveillance Report – 2023 End of Season Summary.
Source 1 URL: https://www.health.gov.au/sites/default/files/2023-12/aisr-2023-national-influenza-season-summary.pdf
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