Going into winter 2023, only 38% of adults were up to date on COVID-19 shots, and 27% had received a flu shot, according to a Grattan Institute report.

Among over-70s, just around 20% had received a pneumococcal vaccine, and fewer than 50% were vaccinated against shingles.

With the 2024 flu season approaching, vaccine policy researcher Associate Professor Katie Attwell is concerned that vaccine fatigue still lingers from the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.

In the lingo of vaccine policy, patients must be “activated” for every vaccine — that means they must decide, for internal or external motivations, that going to their GP or pharmacy to get that shot is worth their while.