Last year’s flu season in South Australia was the worst on record, according to the State Government.
More than 11,000 cases were recorded, which is double the average and the highest number since records began in 2008.
SA Health Minister Jack Snelling said the spike in cases put a strain on hospital resources and staff.
“They had a very, very difficult year, with a significant increase in presentations,” he said.
Despite SA Health distributing a record number of flu vaccinations, Mr Snelling said the figures proved that not enough people were getting vaccinated.
Flinders Medical Centre clinical director and associate professor Alan O’Connor said the strain on health services would be eased if more people were vaccinated.
“The emergency departments around town have coped very well with the large number of patients who have come in with the flu illness, however, we’d like to reduce that number over the next year or two,” he said.
“We’d like to make sure that people who are susceptible to getting bad effects from the flu, who would would need an admission or at least a presentation to an emergency department, get vaccinated.”
The State Government said it was considering a range of options to improve vaccination rates.