Queensland kids under five will get free flu vaccines from next year and the government will provide funds to enable a faster flu diagnosis to ease the burden on the state's hospitals.
Health experts, including representatives from the World Health Organisation, gathered in Brisbane on Wednesday to develop further strategies to combat the flu.
Health Minister Cameron Dick said the evidence was clear more needed to be done to reduce the number of serious cases of influenza after a record season of 52,000 confirmed cases.
Of those, 5500 required hospitalisation.
"Of all the vaccine preventable diseases, influenza beats every other disease combined," he said.
Mr Dick said greater efforts were needed to better protect medical staff from diseases passed on by patients.
A funding package announced before the summit will provide $600,000 for rapid point-of-care testing and a further $700,000 for automated blood culture machines.
Five Queensland public hospitals already have point-of-care testing and Mr Dick said funding would ensure it would be rolled out in a further 15 other hospitals next year.
"Point-of-care tests screen for influenza A and B strains and can provide results within 30 minutes," he said.
"This testing is very efficient and will greatly assist hospitals in the early diagnosis and management of people with flu."
It's hoped the investments will ensure faster diagnosis and treatment of infections, helping the health system better manage its response.
