For years I refused to get the flu jab. I know, I know. The elderly and infants put at risk. Unnecessary time off work. I felt bad about it. I ummed and ahhed. I still didn't get the shot.

I'm just one of the people the WA Government is targeting, in a bid to boost immunity rates around the state.

According to the WA Department of Health, more than 1,500 people were hospitalised due to flu last year.

The department said the uptake of the vaccine was declining, particularly in kids, dropping from 42 per cent to just 7 per cent from 2010 to 2014.

Health Minister Roger Cook said there had been a dramatic downturn in vaccination rates in other age categories.

"In the over 65 cohort, previously it was over 60 per cent, and now it's just over 50 per cent of that cohort who are vaccinated," he said.

"The decline in the number of people getting the influenza vaccine is a startling trend that is unnecessarily jeopardising peoples' health."

So why aren't we getting vaccinated, when evidence shows it puts both us, and vulnerable people in the community, at less risk?

Bad batch spooks parents

Rates of vaccination in children began to fall when hundreds of kids suffered adverse reactions after they were given the flu shot in 2010.

It led to an Australia-wide suspension of the vaccination for children under five.

Perth girl Saba Button (centre) was left severely disabled after receiving the flu vaccine. ( ABC News )

The most highly publicised case was baby Saba Button, who experienced convulsions after being administered the flu vaccination.

She was left profoundly disabled, and the damages paid by vaccine manufacturer CSL are believed to be one of the highest out-of-court settlements in medical history in Australia.

Child health researcher Christopher Blyth said parents and providers' confidence in the influenza vaccine dropped dramatically from 2010 and beyond.

But he said a lot of work had been done to monitor adverse reactions to the vaccine in children in Australia, so if something new was occurring, authorities would quickly detect it.

"So far in Australia we've surveyed tens of thousands of people this season alone, to look at the safety profile of our influenza vaccines," he said.

"The side effect profile is very similar to that of what we've seen in previous years, not including 2010.

"That [2010] was with one brand of vaccine and it was very much isolated to that year, and that vaccine has not been used in Western Australia on young children since that point."

'It hurts!' People get symptoms after the jab

Perth education support worker Janine Kannemeyer doesn't get the jab.

She said she had it some time ago, and felt terrible afterwards.

Education support worker Janine Kannemeyer. ( Supplied: Janine Kannemeyer )

"Generally I don't like taking things unless I absolutely must," Ms Kannemeyer, 32, said.

"The flu hasn't affected me really and ... you know, I'm young, might as well let my body do its thing while it can."

But she said more education may change her mind, or even making it compulsory.

Dr Blyth said influenza exposed people's immune system to a component that lives on the outside of the virus.

"The immune system needs to recognise that, recognise it's novel and be able to mount an immune response to that," Dr Blyth said.

He said the symptoms after an influenza vaccine were usually very mild, and people who did get a reaction mainly got pain around the injection site or a fever.

He said it was also important for people not in the Government's target groups to get vaccinated, to ensure herd immunity, and protect those who were vulnerable like infants and the elderly.

And what about the mercury?

The Australian Vaccination Network, which actually campaigns against vaccination, has raised concerns the injections increase infant mortality and are connected to chronic disease.

They said flu vaccine studies showed very little benefit.

Dr Blyth concedes the flu vaccination efficacy rates will vary year to year, but on average reduced the risk of contracting the virus by about two-thirds.

Some consumers are worried about the contents of the vaccines, including a form of mercury used as a preservative.

According to the Commonwealth health department, thiomersal, which contains ethylmercury "has been used in very small amounts in vaccines for about 60 years to prevent bacterial and fungal contamination of vaccines".

However, the National Immunisation Program no longer uses vaccines with thiomersal.

So, should I get the jab?

This year, I finally faced up to the nurse (which work provided for me for free) and got the injection.

My avoidance tactics were born from a bad reaction to blood donation years ago, that left me with a phobia of needles.

Upon confessing my fears, the veteran nurse patted me on the arm, stuck a lollypop in my mouth, and briskly distracted me with small talk so I barely noticed the quick pain.

Ironically, I'm writing this article as I blow my nose, with what feels like the start of a flu setting in. But weighing the evidence, I still think it was worth it.

The WA Government is offering the jab for free to people in high-risk groups including young children, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders, pregnant women, people aged 65 years and above, and those with chronic medical conditions.

Health Minister Dr Cook said in a statement it was important people were vaccinated every year.

"Each year our hospital emergency departments are put under extra pressure during the peak flu season, due to patients presenting with flu and flu-like symptoms," he said.

"With the onset of colder weather, we will see an increase in the number of flu cases. People can reduce their risk of contracting the flu by getting the flu vaccine now."