Flu shot for the healthy could save hundreds of lives, over $1 billion

Hundreds of lives and up to a billion dollars could be saved in New South Wales alone each year if more people got the flu shot, a new report has found.

The report, released by the New South Wales Productivity Commissioner Peter Achterstraat, detailed the gains that could be made if two million more people under 65 were vaccinated against the flu.

Every extra jab on the way to this target will create potential savings every year between $250 and $640 - compared to the approximate $40 per person cost of vaccination.

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The annual economic benefits, which could reach up to $1.3 billion, include avoiding millions of lost work hours, thousands of flu-related hospitalisations and GP consultations, and saving healthy life years each year.

Additionally the report found, it could save about 500 lives.

"NSW had a severe flu season in 2022, with an estimated 116,000 influenza cases reported," Achterstraat said.

"The flu season in 2023, still ongoing, has also been relatively severe with more than 85,000 cases reported to date."

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While existing health strategies focus on vaccinations for people aged 65 and over, children under five, pregnant women, and immuno-compromised people, the report found these efforts could be strengthened by targeting the less vulnerable.

Young, healthy people, particularly school-aged children, tend to have more social interactions than others so are more likely to spread diseases like the flu.

Achterstraat said evidence from overseas demonstrated the effectiveness of this approach.

"Ontario, Canada expanded their flu vaccination program to include young and healthy people in 2000. Since then, flu-related deaths fell by almost three quarters," he said.

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"In NSW each year, deaths from influenza-like illnesses range between six to 12 deaths per 100,000, depending on the severity of the flu season."

It is estimated that currently only 25 per cent of people under 65 get their annual flu jab.

"A 55 per cent vaccination rate in this cohort can provide nearly the same benefit as vaccinating 100 per cent of us, but at a fraction of the cost," Achterstraat said.

He called for mass vaccination offerings in schools and workplaces to up the rate.