Western Australia set ambitious flu vaccination targets for its 2026 season, backed by over $100 million in public investment and hard memories of the state's worst flu year in a generation. When the program closed at the end of July, the numbers fell short across every measure — the general population reached 28 percent against a 40 percent goal, while children and seniors also missed their marks. Yet flu cases ran at roughly a third of last year's rate, suggesting that even imperfect progress carries real weight. The gap between aspiration and outcome invites not despair, but a deeper reckon