QIM 6: Proportion of regular clients with COPD with an influenza immunisation status recorded in their GP record within the previous 15 months
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Overview
Influenza is a common disease of the respiratory tract which affects people of all ages. In 2023, influenza accounted for 19% of the total notifiable disease cases and has been the most common cause of notifiable disease hospitalisations in most years over the past decade, though highly variable from year to year. Influenza, which was the most common cause of notifiable disease deaths between 2014 and 2019, was recorded as the underlying cause of 305 deaths in 2022 (AIHW 2024h).
There are a number of groups who are at a higher risk of influenza and its complications which experience higher rates of illness and death associated with influenza than the rest of the population, and patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are one of these vulnerable population groups. Therefore, annual influenza vaccination is strongly recommended for patients with COPD to reduce hospitalisations (ATAGI 2025).
Admissions to hospital for COPD are typically highest in winter and early spring, consistent with trends for influenza (AIHW 2024e). The administration of the influenza vaccine to people at risk of complications is the single most important measure in preventing or attenuating influenza infection and preventing mortality. While best practice guidelines recommend annual immunisation, a 15-month interval allows for cases when a client decides to receive a vaccine earlier than recommended (for example, from a pharmacy), or delay and wait for the release of an ‘enhanced’ vaccine (Department of Health 2020d).
Capture of results recorded outside of the general practice setting
Some patients with COPD may receive care from other practitioners in addition to a GP, including a specialist physician, and/or other health care providers to safely manage their COPD (RACGP 2024a). Results arising from clinical intervention conducted outside of the service that are known and recorded by the practice are included in the measure. Where immunisation was provided elsewhere (for example, pharmacies and workplace programs) but are not known to the practice, this is not captured in the report. For example, this might be where the vaccination providers’ information systems may not be compatible with the clinical information system (CIS) of the client’s usual general practice.
Other sources of relevant data
Data on prevalence of long-term health conditions like COPD are captured in the National Health Survey (NHS) conducted by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS). There are other administrative data collections where data on influenza immunisation are captured, for example, the Australian Immunisation Register (AIR).
This indicator reports on the proportion of regular clients aged 15 years and over with a COPD diagnosis, and who had an influenza immunisation status recorded in their GP record within the previous 15 months.
The QIM proportions summarised by the different extraction tools in use are also shown in the ‘Regional proportions’ bar charts for this measure. This illustrates the differences in how software providers have interpreted the technical specifications and coding of QIMs.
QIM 6: Regional proportions
As of July 2025, nationally, 55.9% of regular clients aged 15 years and over with a COPD diagnosis had an influenza immunisation status recorded in their GP record within the previous 15 months. This varied between 46.4% and 66.7% across PHNs, and between 53.9% and 61.1% across extraction tools.
Figure 41: Proportion of regular clients aged 15 years and over with a COPD diagnosis and an influenza immunisation status recorded in their GP record within the previous 15 months, by PHN, or by ET (extraction tool), July 2025
This bar chart shows the proportion of regular clients aged 15 years and over with a recorded diagnosis of COPD and an influenza immunisation status recorded in their GP record, by PHN for July 2025.
QIM 6: National proportions over time
Nationally, between July 2024 and July 2025, the proportion of regular clients with a COPD diagnosis who had an influenza immunisation status recorded in their GP record within the previous 15 months decreased by 2.5 percentage points, from 58.4% to 55.9%.
Figure 42: Proportion of regular clients aged 15 years and over with a COPD diagnosis and an influenza immunisation status recorded in their GP record within the previous 15 months, July 2024 to July 2025
This line chart shows the proportion of regular clients aged 15 years and over with a recorded diagnosis of COPD and an influenza immunisation status recorded in their GP record, from July 2024 to July 2025.
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QIM 6: National proportions by age and sex
The development of COPD occurs over many years and therefore affects mainly middle aged and older people. While it is occasionally reported in younger age groups, the prevalence of COPD gradually increases with age until 45–54 (1.7%), after which prevalence increases more sharply to 7.0% for those aged 75 years and over (AIHW 2024e).
As of July 2025, nationally, the proportion of regular clients aged 15 years and over with a COPD diagnosis, who had an influenza immunisation status recorded in their GP record within the previous 15 months, increased with age and was:
- highest in the 65 years and over age group for both women (66.3%) and men (64.8%)
- lowest in the 25–34 years age group for both women (16.3%) and men (11.7%).
Figure 43: Proportion of regular clients aged 15 years and over with a COPD diagnosis and an influenza immunisation status recorded in their GP record within the previous 15 months, by age and sex, July 2025
This bar chart shows the proportion of regular clients aged 15 years and over with a recorded diagnosis of COPD and an influenza immunisation status recorded in their GP record, by age and sex for July 2025.
- Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) includes any diagnosis of COPD.
- Clinical definitions for COPD vary across CISs, as different coding schemes are used. This may lead to some variation in the number of clients who will be picked up by different systems (AIHW 2025a).
- Data for clients are included if they have received an influenza vaccine within the previous 15 months.
- Results arising from clinical intervention conducted outside of the service that are known and recorded by the service are included in the measure. Where immunisation was given elsewhere (for example, workplace or pharmacy) and the information is not recorded in the electronic record of the client’s usual general practice, then this may result in apparent missing information.
- Clients are excluded from the measure if they:
- did not have the immunisation due to documented medical reasons (e.g. allergy), system reasons (vaccine not available) or client reasons (e.g. refusal),
- had results from measurements conducted outside of the service which were not available to the service.
- There are other administrative data collections where the data on influenza immunisation are captured, for example, the Australian Immunisation Register (AIR).
AIHW (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare) (2024e) Chronic respiratory conditions, AIHW, Australian Government, accessed 4 September 2025.
AIHW (2024h) Infectious and communicable diseases, AIHW, Australian Government, accessed 4 September 2025.
AIHW (2025a) Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander specific primary health care: results from the OSR and nKPI collections, AIHW, Australian Government, accessed 4 September 2025.
ATAGI (2025) Australian Immunisation Handbook: Influenza (flu), Department of Health and Aged Care, Australian Government, accessed 4 September 2025.
Department of Health (2020d) Practice Incentives Program Quality Improvement Incentive Quality Improvement Measures: User Guide for Primary Health Networks, Department of Health, Australian Government, accessed 4 September 2025.
RACGP (Royal Australian College of General Practitioners) (2024a) COPD-X Handbook, RACGP, East Melbourne, Victoria, accessed 4 September 2025.