Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) has released its 2026 influenza vaccination advice ahead of this year’s flu season.
Annual influenza vaccination is recommended, ideally before the start of the influenza season.
You must report all influenza vaccinations, both National Immunisation Program (NIP) and privately purchased, to the Australian Immunisation Register (AIR).
Healthcare provider recommendation is the strongest predictor of a person's decision to vaccinate. Please familiarise yourself with the latest advice and resources as they become available and discuss these with your patients.
Key points and updates for 2026
- For adults aged 65 years and over, both the NIP funded adjuvanted vaccine (Fluad®) and the private market high dose influenza vaccine (Fluzone High-Dose) are equally preferentially recommended over standard influenza vaccines.
- Flucelvax®, a cell-based vaccine, is NIP funded for people aged 5 to 64 years with medical conditions that put them at increased risk of complications from influenza. There is no preferential recommendation between Flucelvax® and standard dose egg-based influenza vaccines.
- In 2026, the intranasally administered live attenuated influenza vaccine (LAIV) will be available for the first time in Australia for children aged 2–17 years by private prescription, and through statebased immunisation programs in New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia and Western Australia (See 'Intranasal live-attenuated influenza vaccine' section below).
- Influenza vaccines can be co-administered with other vaccines.
The factsheet also includes specific advice on:
- special considerations for travelling patients
- children aged six months to less than five years
- pregnant women
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People
- people aged 65 years and over
- medically at-risk patients.
Read full ATAGI advice
Updates to the Australian Immunisation Handbook influenza chapter
The Australian Immunisation Handbook
influenza chapter has been updated to include:
- information on the LAIV as an alternative to inactivated influenza vaccines for those eligible (see section below)
- changes to recommended doses, being that whilst most individuals should receive one dose of influenza vaccine each year, when receiving influenza vaccine for the first time, healthy children aged 6 months to <2 years and only those with medical risk conditions aged 6 months to <9 years should receive 2 doses, given 4 weeks apart
- that people aged from 50 years may receive adjuvanted influenza vaccine (Fluad) as an alternative to standard-dose influenza vaccine.
Access the handbook
Eligibility for influenza vaccines funded by the National Immunisation Program (NIP)
Annual influenza vaccination is funded under the NIP for:
- all children aged 6 months to < 5 years;
- all adults aged ≥65 years;
- pregnant women at any stage of pregnancy
- First Nations people aged 6 months and over
- People aged 6 months and over with certain medical conditions (see conditions outlined in ATAGI advice).
Some states and territory governments also fund influenza vaccines for other groups. Please refer your state or territory health department website (links at the top of this page) for more information.
The Australian Department of Health, Disability and Ageing has released a National Immunisation Program fact sheet with program advice for health professionals for the 2026 influenza (flu) season.
Intranasal live-attenuated influenza vaccine
The intranasal live-attenuated influenza vaccine (LAIV) FluMist® has been approved for use in Australia for children aged 2 years to under 18 years, and is now available. The nasal spray may be given at the same time as live or non-live vaccines, and has shown similar efficacy to injectable flu vaccines in children.
Some states have announced funding for use of the intranasal vaccine for eligible children, including:
NSW: children aged two to 17 years
SA: children aged two to under five years
QLD: all children aged two to five years (inclusive), and children aged six to 17 years (inclusive) who struggle with getting a needle
WA: children aged two to under 12.
Please refer your state or territory health department website (links at the top of this page) for more information.
Where funding has not been provided, the LAIV is still available for children aged 2–17 years by private prescription.
Recently, there have been reports of FluMist being administered in error to children under 2 years of age. To minimise the risk of incorrect administration of FluMist:
- confirm the child is 2 years or older before administering FluMist
- review the product information available on the TGA website, including the indication, dose, method of administration and contraindications.
For more information, visit the TGA’s Be alert to FluMist indicated age range webpage.
The National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance has released influenza resources that addres the new intranasal LAIV, including:
Key resources:
Stay up-to-date
Further advice and resources will be available on the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing website as it becomes available.
You can also subscribe to receive the latest updates on National Immunisation Program (NIP).