Flu vaccine free for many people

• Pregnant people
• People aged 65 years and over
• People aged 6 months to under 65 years with long-term medical conditions like diabetes, asthma, or heart disease
• Children aged 4 years and under who have been hospitalised for respiratory illness or have a history of significant respiratory illness
• People aged 6 months to under 65 years with serious mental health and addiction conditions

Best time to receive the flu vaccine

According to the Immunisation Advisory Centre, the best time to get the flu vaccine is mid to late April. This will support your immunity during the peak flu season from late July to August.

Who should get the flu vaccine?

We recommend annual flu vaccination for everyone over 6 months old to stay protected during peak flu season. If most people get the flu vaccine, it creates herd immunity and helps protect vulnerable people in our community.

Why a new flu vaccination every year

The flu (influenza) virus changes every season, requiring the vaccine to be updated annually to provide the best protection. Even if you're generally fit and healthy, the flu can still hit you hard and spread to vulnerable people, such as children, older adults, pregnant people, or those with weakened immune systems.

Click here for more information around flu vaccinations.