Annual influenza vaccination is the most important way to prevent influenza and its complications. Annual vaccination is recommended for anyone aged 6 months and over who wishes to reduce the risk of influenza and its complications.
Influenza vaccines are funded on the National Immunisation Program in 2019 for the following groups due to their increased risk of complications from influenza:
- All Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 6 months and over
- Pregnant women (during any stage of pregnancy)
- All people aged 65 years and over
- People aged six months and over with certain medical conditions which increase their risk of complications from influenza
It is important to get the influenza vaccine each year, as the virus changes each year. Getting the vaccine from April will provide protection before the peak influenza period, from around June to September in most parts of Australia.
Things you may need to know about the Flu Vaccination:
- There is no live virus in the flu vaccine, so you cannot get the flu from the flu vaccine
- The composition of the vaccine changes every year to combat the constantly-mutating flu virus. This year we are offering the quadrivalent vaccine, which protects against four of the most common strain
- The flu vaccine is safe for pregnant women at all stages of their pregnancy
So what are you waiting for?
