Influenza (flu) vaccine

Immunisation against seasonal influenza is recommended for everyone aged from 6 months and over.

Influenza can have severe consequences for vulnerable people and put extra pressure on health systems, especially when hospitals are at their busiest.

Vaccination is a safe and effective way to protect yourself and others from serious influenza-related illnesses. By getting vaccinated against influenza, you can also help protect people who are too sick or too young to be vaccinated. The more people vaccinated, the less chance there is of influenza spreading.

People at higher risk of serious influenza illness can receive a free influenza vaccine, including:

• Aboriginal people 6 months and over
• children aged 6 months to primary school Year 6
• children aged 2 to 17 years (FluMist until 7 August 2026)
• people aged 6 months or over who have medical conditions
• pregnant people (at any stage of pregnancy)
• people aged 65 years and older
• vulnerable people (e.g – those experiencing homelessness) aged 6 months and over.

Note: The influenza vaccine is free for the above at-risk groups, however patients may be charged a consultation fee. Please check the cost when making an appointment.

Influenza vaccination is also recommended for people who:

• work in certain jobs and industries (external site) – check your organisation's policies for any requirements at your workplace
• are travelling to certain countries – read more about immunisation before travel
• are planning a pregnancy.

Those with increased risk are sometimes recommended to have 2 doses of the influenza vaccine within the space of a year. Please check with your immunisation provider to find out whether this applies to you.

If you are not eligible for a free vaccine, you can purchase the vaccine privately. Speak to your immunisation provider for more information. 

Children aged 6 months to Primary school Year 6, including FluMist

Children are at a higher risk of serious complications from influenza than adults. Even healthy children can become seriously very unwell.

Influenza infection and hospitalisation rates are highest in children and most influenza-related hospitalisations and deaths in children occur in those who do not have underlying medical conditions.

For children 6 months to Year 6, the influenza vaccine is safe, strongly recommended and free (check with your immunisation provider about any consultation fees).

A single annual dose of influenza vaccine is recommended for most people. However, to help build strong protection against influenza, the following people should receive 2 doses at least 4 weeks apart:

• children aged 6 months to less than 2 years who are being vaccinated against influenza for the first time
• children aged 6 months to less than 9 years with a medical risk condition and are being vaccinated against influenza for the first time
• people of any age being vaccinated against influenza for the first time after a haemotopoietic stem cell or solid organ translate, or CAR T-cell therapy. 

Children aged 2 to 17 years can also get the influenza vaccine until 7 August 2026 as a nasal spray instead of a needle.

FluMist: influenza nasal spray vaccination

Children and adolescents aged 2 to 17 years are eligible to receive the influenza vaccine as a nasal spray instead of a needle until 7 August 2026. This age group is prioritised because they are at high risk of influenza complications and can readily spread influenza to others. No needles are used.

The vaccine contains tiny amounts of weakened influenza viruses that can’t make you sick. They simply train your body to recognise and fight influenza.

The spray is absorbed quickly in the nose and will work even if people sneeze afterwards.

Children can get vaccinated with FluMist nasal spray at:

• GPs
• Pharmacies
• Community Health Services
• Aboriginal Health Services

Nasal spray vaccine is not suitable for people who are moderately or severely immunocompromised. Needle – based influenza vaccines remain available for children who are not eligible for the nasal spray influenza vaccine or when the nasal spray influenza vaccine is not suitable.

Learn more about FluMist (external site)

Babies under the age of 6 months are too young to be vaccinated against influenza. The best way to protect babies from influenza is to get vaccinated during pregnancy. You can receive the influenza vaccine at any time during pregnancy.

See Immunisation in pregnancy for more information.

The vaccine should not be given to people who have had:

• anaphylaxis after a previous dose of any acellular pertussis–containing vaccine
• anaphylaxis after any component of an acellular pertussis–containing vaccine.

Benefits

Getting vaccinated against influenza is the best way to protect yourself from influenza. It is also the best way to protect vulnerable people who are more likely to develop serious complications that can arise from influenza infection, such as:

• pneumonia
• sinus and ear infections
• sepsis
• acute kidney injury
• acute cardiovascular events

The vaccine reduces your chance of getting influenza, and if you do catch it, usually means a milder illness and a quicker recovery.

Risks

As with any medicine, side effects can occur with vaccines. Most side effects are mild and short-lived. In rare cases, more serious side effects such as a severe allergic reaction can occur. However, the risk of this happening is extremely low. Possible side effects are outlined below.

Influenza viruses change from year to year. This means that even if you had influenza or got the seasonal influenza vaccine last year, your immune system might not be able to fight the new strains this year.

A new seasonal influenza vaccine is developed each year to protect against the most recent and common strains. The vaccine includes protection against 3 strains of influenza viruses. The Australian Influenza Vaccine Committee decides the exact formulation each year, based on recommendations from the World Health Organization.

You cannot get influenza from the influenza vaccine as it does not contain any live virus. However, you can still catch influenza if you are exposed to it shortly before your immunisation or during the first 2-weeks afterward – this is how long your body needs to build protection.

People may confuse other respiratory viruses with influenza. The influenza vaccine only protects against the influenza virus, not other illnesses that may cause similar symptoms.

Influenza can cause serious complications in pregnant people and their babies. During pregnancy, changes in the immune system, heart and lungs make pregnant people more vulnerable to severe illness from influenza.

Getting the influenza vaccine during pregnancy is especially important because it is the only way to protect babies younger than 6 months, who are too young to be vaccinated. For this reason, the World Health Organization recommends that pregnant people receive the highest priority for influenza vaccination.

The influenza vaccine is free during pregnancy and can be given at any time. However, the second and third trimesters are the best times to be vaccinated, as this is when the risk of serious influenza-related complications is highest. If a pregnancy spans 2 influenza seasons, and the person was vaccinated the previous season, it is recommended to have the current season’s vaccine later in pregnancy.

The influenza vaccine has been safely given to millions of pregnant people worldwide for many years. Studies have shown no evidence of harm to pregnant people or their babies.

The influenza vaccine can also be safely given at the same time as the pertussis (whooping cough), RSV, or COVID-19 vaccines, as well as other vaccines recommended during pregnancy. For more information, see Immunisation in pregnancy and Influenza VIP (vaccine in pregnancy) (PDF 236KB) (external site).

People aged 65 years and over are at a higher risk of becoming very unwell from influenza than younger, healthy adults. That is why it is strongly recommended that everyone in this age group gets immunised against influenza every year – even if they are generally healthy and don’t get sick often.

A free influenza vaccine is available specifically for people aged 65 years and over. The vaccine is designed to create a stronger immune response among older adults, who typically have a weaker response to immunisation.

Before receiving the influenza vaccine, your immunisation provider will go through a pre-screening checklist with you. Make sure to tell them if you (or your child):

• is unwell (with a temperature over 38.5°C)
• has had a serious reaction to any vaccine
• has a severe allergy to anything
• is under 6 months of age
• has had Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS).

People who have previously had GBS have a higher chance of developing it again. Because of this, they may also be more likely than others to develop GBS by coincidence after an influenza vaccination. Diagnosing GBS is complex and must be made by a specialist.

The only reason not to have an influenza vaccine is if you have had a severe allergic (anaphylactic) reaction to a previous influenza vaccine or to any ingredient in a vaccine. Such reactions are very rare.

Your immunisation provider can discuss your medical history with you and help decide whether the influenza vaccine is recommended for you.

The influenza vaccine is a safe and effective way to protect both you and your community from serious influenza-related illnesses.

All vaccines used in Australia must pass strict safety testing before being approved by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) (external site). Vaccine safety continues to be monitored through AusVaxSafety, a national program that tracks reactions to influenza vaccines each year. Visit AusVaxSafety for more information (external site).

People with an egg allergy, including those who have had anaphylaxis, can safely be vaccinated with any influenza vaccine, unless they have previously experienced a serious adverse reaction to an influenza vaccine.

Learn more about vaccination safety.

Common side effects

Common side effects of influenza vaccines are usually mild, occur soon after vaccination, last 1 to 2 days, and resolve without special treatment. These can include:

• pain, redness and swelling where the needle was given
• fever
• muscle aches and/or drowsiness.

Specific treatment is not usually required.

Serious side effects

Vaccines, like all medicine, can cause side effects. Serious reactions, such as a severe allergic reaction, are extremely rare and usually happen within minutes to a few hours after vaccination. Immunisation providers are trained to recognise and manage allergic reactions.

You can learn more about possible side effects of vaccinationand what to do if they occur.

When to seek help

If you or someone in your care for has a reaction that worries you, seek medical advice:

• tell your immunisation provider if you’re still at the clinic
• see your doctor
• phone 1800MEDICARE on 1800 633 422
• visit your hospital emergency department
• call an ambulance. 

Concerns about side effects

Your immunisation provider should report all suspected significant reactions, but you can also make a report. Report any reaction that causes concern, whether minor or serious, to the Western Australian Vaccine Safety Surveillance (WAVSS) system (external site).

Report it:

• via the WA Vaccine Safety Surveillance (WAVSS) system (external site) website
• by phoning WAVSS on 6456 0208 (9 am to 5 pm).

WAVSS may contact you for further information.

For more information, visitReporting side effects after immunisation

The influenza vaccine is available from:

• GPs (general practices)
• pharmacies
• community immunisation clinics
• Aboriginal Medical Services.

Workplaces may also provide influenza vaccination programs for their staff.

Some immunisation providers may charge a consultation fee for administering the vaccine. You should check if there are any costs when making an appointment with your chosen immunisation provider.

For more information, see Where can I get immunised?