Currently, less than one in five SA children under the age of five have had a flu vaccine – a figure that experts agree is too low, even though it’s higher than the national average.
To encourage vaccinations, a targeted advertising campaign is running until the end of June, featuring key themes including messaging to all parents that their children’s health is in their hands, and that even healthy kids get sick.
It is a reminder that in winter there is typically an increase in flu cases across the state, which can cause serious 
health problems, including the need for hospitalisation for any child.
So far this year, 781 children under the age of five have been diagnosed with flu in South Australia, with 87 of those diagnosed ending up in hospital.
Chief Public Health Officer Professor Nicola Spurrier urged parents to prioritise the health of their family.
"Getting a flu vaccine and ensuring your little ones are vaccinated is one simple measure to give you peace of mind as coughs and colds set in," she said.
"Respiratory infections such as flu spread quickly in childcare and kindy, particularly over the colder months when kids spend more time indoors.
"Prioritising a free flu vaccine for your child will ensure your child is not the one that ends up in hospital."
Across the state, there have been 6754 flu cases reported so far this year – compared to 4267 cases at the same time last year.
The flu vaccine is free for at-risk groups including children less than five years, people aged more than 65 years, pregnant women, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and those aged more than six months with certain health conditions. People can find out if they are eligible by visiting the SA Health website.
SA’s flu vaccine uptake across the board is once again above the national average and the highest of any mainland state, with almost 30 per cent of South Australians vaccinated.
For more information on flu vaccines for children under five years, visit SA Health.
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