More people are dying from flu than COVID-19 in Australia in a disturbing turning point for the nation’s health.

The figures have prompted one of the country’s top doctors to urge people to be vigilant against rising vaccine complacency, saying it was a wake-up call.

“This highlights the need for Australians to get the flu vaccine, particularly those at higher risk of complications,” president of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners, Michael Wright, told AAP.

“If fewer people receive the influenza vaccination, more people end up getting sick.”

Declining vaccination rates and complacency about a virus previously feared are all contributing to the rise in mortality from influenza.

In August 2025, 265 people in Australia died from or with influenza compared to just 195 d

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