‘Not going to force people’: Bleijie OK with country’s worst flu jab rate

The news

Queensland Deputy Premier Jarrod Bleijie has declared he is happy with the state’s nation-trailing flu vaccination rate as hospitals struggle with infections – drawing criticism from an expert and the Labor opposition.

And after Premier David Crisafulli on Monday refused to say if he had personally had the vaccine, Bleijie echoed the comments, saying whether he had had a jab was “between me and my GP”.

He then went further.

“We’re not going to be a government like former governments, dictating what people do in their own homes, their own lives or with their doctors,” Bleijie said.

“We’re not going to force people to go and have medical … between – a private matter, between a GP and the individual,” he said, appearing to go briefly off-script before returning to the repeated line.

Why it matters

Queensland Health director-general Dr David Rosengren conceded this month that the state’s vaccination rate (under 28 per cent) was Australia’s lowest, despite a $675,000 campaign for free vaccinations.

A daily average of 227 public hospital beds were occupied by flu patients at present, with almost half over the age of 65. Of almost 4700 people hospitalised this year, 85 per cent were not vaccinated.

There have been 103 flu-related deaths in the state to August 3 – nine more than the same period last year. Experts have said the low vaccination uptake reflected wider trends, in particular a reduction in vaccine confidence after the coronavirus pandemic.

Queensland Health’s free flu vaccinations at the Ekka were axed after appearing at the past two annual events.

What they said

Pressed on whether he was happy with the state’s vaccination rate, Bleijie replied, “yes”, denying the government was courting anti-vaccination voters.

“We have a campaign on the flu vaccinations, but the health of Queenslanders is a matter for Queenslanders with individual responsibility,” he said.

“And just as I’m a private citizen, so are Queenslanders. And that’s a matter [of] what they do with their own bodies, between their GP and their individual. So that’s my position.”

Bleijie said he had appeared at recent media conferences where the issue of flu cases overwhelming emergency departments was discussed, and he said the government was doing all it could to ensure that was not the case.

“But I don’t think Queenslanders are surprised that you have an influx of flu in flu season,” he said.

Another perspective

Labor health spokesperson Mark Bailey told reporters if the government thought the flu vaccination rate was something to be proud of, “they have really lost the plot when it comes to protecting Queenslanders”.

Bailey said it was “odd” both Crisafulli and Bleijie had been happy to publicly share details of their vaccinations and advocate for people to get them in previous years.

He accused the pair of “play[ing] … to the anti-vax crowd” and noted the government had spent three times more on political health infrastructure ad campaigns than on the free flu shot scheme.

Professor Julie Leask, a professor of public health at the University of Sydney Infectious Diseases Institute, said while vaccines are a private decision, public figures can and should show leadership.

“Whilst I agree it is a private decision, there is an opportunity here to advocate for something that will stop at least some Queenslanders ending up in hospital,” the vaccine uptake specialist said.

Leask questioned Bleijie’s happiness around the state’s flu vaccination rate, which she described as “too low”.

“I think he should be worried ... and having political commitment can make such a difference.”

Professor Kirsten Spann, the director of the Centre for Immunology and Infection Control at Queensland University of Technology, said earlier this month that while the vaccination may not stop you getting infected, it can reduce the severity of illness and help limit hospital admissions.

AMA Queensland president Dr Nick Yim said he had received the vaccine and would continue to advocate for anyone yet to have a flu shot to do so.

“We have stood with Health Minister Tim Nicholls and Acting Chief Health Officer Dr Heidi Carroll to encourage Queenslanders to roll up their sleeves,” Yim said.

“We need all our political leaders to back the Health Minister’s message that it is never too late to vaccinate.

“As a GP, I’ve had my flu shot, and I encourage all my patients, my community and all Queenslanders to have theirs.”

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