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Western Australia is lagging behind in immunizing children against influenza, with influenza vaccine adoption now being less than half that of other states.
Only 19% of Western Australian preschool children are vaccinated against influenza, compared with more than 40% in some eastern states.
The government is now urging parents to take advantage of free vaccines, and doctors say that a flu shot will help avoid a possible stay at the hospital.
Every year in the country, more than 2000 people die directly or indirectly from the flu.
Doctors say that many of these lives could have been saved if they had been vaccinated against the flu.
The best time to get vaccinated
It's hard to predict the type of influenza season that Australians will be experiencing this year, but doctors believe that over the next four weeks it's time to get vaccinated.
In Western Australia, the influenza season varies, but usually starts around mid-June and can last until mid-October, the beginning of September, when the flu peaks.
The 2018 influenza season in Western Australia was considered mild, but 11% of cases were children under five.
More than a quarter of these children had to be hospitalized.
"This is a very serious situation, it puts our resources to the test, but it means that we have children who fall too sick and needlessly," said WA Health Minister Roger Cook.
"We have children who become too sick and needlessly.
The vaccine is available free of charge for all pregnant women, people over 65, all Aboriginals and children aged six months to five years.
Individuals can access the vaccine from a variety of facilities, including community health clinics, local GPs, and the West Perth Central Immunization Clinic.
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