Vaccination Services - Influenza

The flu is not just a bad cold. Influenza can be serious, especially for the very young, older adults, pregnant women, and people with health conditions, and it sweeps through every winter. An annual flu vaccine is the best protection, and getting it at the pharmacy is one of the easiest health habits you can build.

What is the flu vaccine?

Influenza vaccine is updated each year to match the strains expected that season, which is why it is an annual shot. It reduces your chance of catching the flu and, importantly, your risk of severe illness if you do. It is recommended for everyone aged 6 months and over, with the strongest case for those at higher risk of complications.

Who is it for, and who gets it free?

Anyone from 6 months of age can have the flu vaccine. It is free under the National Immunisation Program (NIP) for higher-risk groups, which typically include adults aged 65 and over, pregnant women (at any stage), Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, children aged 6 months to under 5 years, and people with certain medical conditions. Everyone else can still get vaccinated, usually as a paid (private) vaccine. A pharmacy may charge an administration fee even for a free vaccine.

Getting it at a pharmacy

Trained pharmacist immunisers commonly provide flu vaccination from a state-defined minimum age (often around 5 years, though this varies by state and territory). The pharmacist screens you, gives the vaccine in a private area, observes you for about 15 minutes, and records it on the Australian Immunisation Register. For young children below the pharmacy age limit, see your GP or an immunisation clinic.

When to get it

Flu activity usually peaks in winter, and protection takes about two weeks to develop and wanes over months, so the common advice is to be vaccinated in autumn, before the season ramps up. That said, getting vaccinated later in the season is still worthwhile if you have missed the early window. Because it is annual, last year’s shot does not protect you this year.

Safety

The flu vaccine has a strong safety record. Common side effects are mild and short-lived: a sore arm, low-grade fever, or feeling a bit off for a day. Tell the pharmacist about severe allergies (including to a previous flu vaccine), past reactions, or if you are unwell with a fever on the day. Serious reactions are rare, which is why you wait a short time after the jab.

How it’s regulated in Australia

Flu vaccines are approved by the Therapeutic Goods Administration and funded for eligible groups through the NIP. Pharmacist immunisers administer them under state and territory rules and record doses on the Australian Immunisation Register. Recommendations come from the Australian Immunisation Handbook.

Official sources

• Healthdirect: flu (influenza)
• National Immunisation Program schedule

Get your annual shot in autumn and protect yourself for winter. Use the button below to find a pharmacy offering flu vaccination near you.