Australia's had two years of incredibly low influenza rates thanks to COVID-19 isolation, but this year is not going to be the same.
The case rate is already rising, and this week Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk made flu shots free as she warned the state to brace for a difficult winter.
"The flu season this year is significantly bad and it's comparable to the season we had in 2017," Ms Palaszczuk said.
"So we need to do a pre-emptive strike now. We need to make sure we have this preventative measure in place."
Federal health figures show only 598 laboratory-confirmed influenza cases were reported around the country in the year to November 2021.
But in the first four months of this year, 5,049 cases have been recorded nationally.
And data from some states is already showing the May figures will rapidly eclipse that number.
So what are the figures saying so far?
These numbers from Australia's Communicable Diseases Network show three states alone — New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland — have already had more cases this year than the entire country did last year.
In the last two weeks of April alone, NSW reported 1,682 laboratory-confirmed cases, Victoria 814 cases and Queensland 622 cases.
States such as Tasmania and Western Australia are posting single-digit case numbers.
But if we take a look at figures from state health departments with more recent data, such as Queensland's, they point to a rapid rise in infections.
Last week, 3,396 confirmed cases were reported there — up almost 1,000 on the week before when 2,362 cases were confirmed. That's a rapid rise from several hundred at the end of April.
And in New South Wales, a similar number of cases were recorded in its health department's most recent figures.
In the week ending May 14, there were 3,601 people with a confirmed diagnosis, which was 63 per cent higher than the week before.
Who can get free flu shots?
The Australian Medical Association says other states should follow Queensland's lead and provide free shots to reduce infections and help ease pressure on the health system.
But Queensland's announcement caught GPs off guard, with patients wanting free jabs and clinics unsure if they will be reimbursed for vaccines already purchased.
New South Wales and South Australia are considering the move.
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews says his government is talking to GPs and the Pharmacy Guild about whether the flu vaccine should be made free for everyone this winter.
Mr Andrews says he will seek a contribution from the new federal government if the state is advised to cover the cost.
