Influenza vaccination

Annual influenza protection — recommended for everyone over 6 months

Flu season in Australia: April through September. Best timing for vaccination is April–June, before the peak.

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About Flu

What it is, and why it matters

Influenza is a respiratory illness caused by influenza A and B viruses, with strains drifting genetically every year. In Australia the season typically runs June through September, but onset and severity vary — bad years see thousands of hospitalisations and several hundred deaths, mostly in older adults, infants, pregnant people and those with chronic conditions.

Symptoms come on suddenly: fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, exhaustion. The illness lasts about a week in healthy adults but can complicate to pneumonia, myocarditis, encephalitis or death in vulnerable people. Influenza is also a major driver of "winter pressures" in hospitals each year.

About the vaccine

How flu vaccination works

The annual influenza vaccines used in Australia are inactivated, quadrivalent vaccines — they contain killed virus components from four strains updated each year by the WHO Northern and Southern Hemisphere recommendations. Several formulations are available: standard egg-based, cell-based, and adjuvanted higher-dose formulations registered specifically for adults aged 65 and over.

Because influenza viruses drift, the vaccine is reformulated annually and a single dose is needed each year — the prior season's vaccine does not provide adequate protection against the current circulating strains.

TGA advertising compliance. Vaccines are described by disease or category in line with the Therapeutic Goods Advertising Code. Specific brands are confirmed with you at the consultation.

Who is eligible

Funding and eligibility for flu vaccination

Anchored to the National Immunisation Program schedule and ATAGI advice. Your immuniser confirms your eligibility at the pre-vaccination consultation.

Adults aged 65 and over

NIP-funded

Free under the NIP each year, with an adjuvanted formulation specifically registered for older adults.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 6 months and over

NIP-funded

Free under the NIP each year for all ages.

Children aged 6 months to under 5 years

NIP-funded

Free under the NIP each year — children under 9 receiving their first ever flu vaccine need 2 doses 4 weeks apart.

Pregnant people, any trimester

NIP-funded

Free under the NIP — protects both parent and infant in the first months of life.

People with eligible medical-risk conditions

NIP-funded

Free under the NIP for chronic heart, lung, kidney, liver, neurological, metabolic conditions and immunocompromise.

Everyone else aged 6 months and over

Private

Recommended every year; private fee applies unless funded by your workplace.

Use the eligibility checker·See pricing·See the full NIP schedule

Schedule

Doses and timing

Schedules below reflect typical recommendations. Your immuniser will confirm exactly what applies to you, including any catch-up doses and co-administration with other vaccines.

Single dose each year, ideally before the season peaks (April–June in Australia).
Children under 9 receiving their first ever flu vaccine need 2 doses, 4 weeks apart.
Can be co-administered safely with COVID-19 boosters and most other vaccines.

What to expect

Sore arm at the injection site — most common, settles in 24–48 hours.
Mild fever, fatigue or muscle aches lasting a day or two.
Severe allergic reactions are very rare; the 15-minute observation period after vaccination exists to manage these promptly.

Precautions

Defer if you currently have a fever above 38.5°C — return when well.
A history of severe allergic reaction to a prior influenza vaccine warrants a discussion with your GP or immuniser.
Severe egg allergy: most modern vaccines can be given safely in pharmacy or general practice — discuss with your immuniser.

Effectiveness

How well the vaccine works

Vaccine effectiveness against laboratory-confirmed influenza varies year by year — typically 30–60% against any infection — but the bigger benefit is reducing severity, hospitalisation and death by 40–70% in those who do get the flu. The vaccine also reduces transmission in the community.

Common questions

FAQs about flu vaccination

When in the year should I get my flu shot?

April through June is the optimal window in Australia, ahead of the seasonal peak. Protection takes 10–14 days to develop and lasts for the season. If you missed that window it's still worth getting vaccinated later — flu activity often continues into October.

Can I get the flu shot at the same time as a COVID-19 booster?

Yes. ATAGI advises both can be safely co-administered in the same visit — typically one in each arm. Many people prefer this for convenience.

Why do I need it every year?

Influenza viruses change each year, and vaccine-induced immunity also wanes over months. The annual vaccine is reformulated to match the strains expected to circulate, and a fresh dose restores high antibody levels.