Experts Warn of Covid Surge as Vaccination Rates Drop

Health experts are urging Australians to get vaccinated as Covid-19 cases rise due to a new, fast-spreading variant. The Omicron subvariant NB.1.8.1, first detected in January, is now dominant in parts of Asia and Western Australia, causing a 24% spike in infections.

Professor Paul Griffin from Mater Hospital in Brisbane highlighted the risk: “We’ve lost momentum with Covid-19 vaccinations. But the virus remains widespread and continues to pose a significant risk, especially to high-risk individuals.”

Booster Urged Ahead of Winter

With winter approaching, Professor Griffin recommends an annual Covid booster for vulnerable groups, similar to the flu shot. “Now is the time to get vaccinated—and it’s safe to receive the Covid and flu vaccines together,” he said. Fewer than 250,000 Queenslanders have received their free annual booster.

Healthcare System Under Strain

Alongside Covid, flu and RSV (Respiratory Syncytial Virus) are surging. Flu hospitalisations in Queensland are up 30% compared to last year, and RSV has sent over 1,500 people—mostly infants and the elderly—to hospital. RSV vaccines are available for pregnant women to help protect newborns.

Child Vaccination Rates Falling

Experts are also concerned about declining childhood immunisation. “Since 2020, the percentage of fully vaccinated children has dropped each year,” said Professor Peter Beadon from the Grattan Institute. “For every vaccine on the National Immunisation Schedule, coverage was lower in 2024 than in 2020.”

Beadon warned this could undo years of progress: “Australia has historically been a vaccination success story—virtually eliminating diseases like polio—but that achievement is now under threat.”