Expanding Australia’s free influenza vaccination program to cover all adults from age 50 could be cost-effective and reduce the burden of hospitalisation for acute myocardial infarction, a study suggests.

People in this age group can only receive the vaccine on the NIP if they are at high risk due to medical conditions, with free vaccine available once people reach 65.

Fewer than half of individuals aged 50-64 are being vaccinated, according to a health department survey.

Australian researchers, led by UNSW Sydney, have come up with a flu vaccination model they claim would prevent 300 influenza/pneumonia hospitalisations, 400 respiratory hospitalisations and 1500 acute myocardial infarction (MI) hospitalisations a year, resulting in savings of about $8 million annually.