Influenza vaccine information

   

Vaccine supply

The National Immunisation Program has experienced a short delay in the supply of Vaxigrip簧 Tetra. FluQuadri簧 will be supplied as an alternative influenza vaccine for children 6 months to under 5 years at the beginning of the 2025 Influenza Vaccination Program until the supply of Vaxigrip簧 Tetra becomes available.

Influenza vaccine distribution for the 2025 program is expected to commence in late March 2025.

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漍漍漍漍漍漍漍漍漍漍漍漍漍漍漍漍漍漍漍漍漍漍漍漍漍漍漍漍漍漍漍漍漍漍漍漍2025 NIP influenza vaccines

漍漍漍漍漍漍T堯梗 Australian Government provides a free seasonal influenza vaccine to those most at risk of complications from influenza. There are no new eligibility cohorts for NIP influenza vaccines in 2025. 

The following table provides information on the age-appropriate NIP vaccines for 2025.

2025 Influenza vaccines available under the NIP, by age

Before administering an influenza vaccine, check you have the correct vaccine for the person's age. Ages are identified on the syringe.

About the following table:

  • ticks indicate age at which a vaccine is registered and available
  • shaded boxes represent funding under the NIP.
Registered age groupVaxigrip Tetra
-0.5mL (Sanofi)
Flucelvax Quad
0.5mL (Seqirus)
Fluad Quad
0.5mL (Seqirus)
Less than 6 months old Not registered or available under the National Immunisation Program 
Not registered or available under the National Immunisation Program 
Not registered or available under the National Immunisation Program 
6 months to under 5 years old Registered and available - funded under the National Immunisation Program 
Registered and available but not funded under the National Immunisation Program 
Not registered or available under the National Immunisation Program 
5 to 64 years old Registered and available - funded under the National Immunisation Program 1 Registered and available - funded under the National Immunisation Program 1 Not registered or available under the National Immunisation Program 
65 years old and over Registered and available but not funded under the National Immunisation Program 
Registered and available but not funded under the National Immunisation Program 
Registered and available - funded under the National Immunisation Program 2
  1. Funding only for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, pregnant women and people who have certain medical conditions.
  2. Adjuvant QIV preferred over standard QIVs.

Before administering an influenza vaccine, check you have the correct vaccine for the persons age at time of administration.

  • Vaxigrip Tetra簧 can be used for people from 6 months of age and is for the universal 6 months to <5-year program, Aboriginal people, pregnant women and for NIP eligible medically at-risk patients 5 years to 64 years. 
  • Flucelvax簧 Quad is a cell-based influenza vaccine and is available under the NIP in 2025 for eligible cohorts aged 5 years to 64 years. 
  • T堯梗 quadrivalent influenza vaccine (QIV) Fluad簧 Quad contains an adjuvant and is recommended for people 65 years of age over other available QIVs. In 2025, Fluad簧 Quad vaccine is the only influenza vaccine funded under the NIP for people aged 65 years and over and is not available for private purchase.
  • Influenza vaccines are also available on the private market.
Helpful Resource: The influenza vaccine information sheet is downloadable and printable (this is Appendix 2 in the Influenza Vaccination Providers Toolkit)

Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) statement on the administration of seasonal influenza vaccines in 2025

T堯梗 ATAGI statement on the administration of seasonal influenza vaccines in 2025 provides an overview of key points and updates for 2025, including:

  • Timing of vaccination
  • Influenza vaccination for pregnant women
  • Eligibility for influenza vaccines funded by the National Immunisation Program (NIP).

Transition from quadrivalent (QIV) to trivalent (TIV) seasonal influenza vaccines in Australia

The composition of influenza vaccines for the Southern Hemisphere is reviewed by the World Health Organization annually in September, and then subsequently determined by the Australian Influenza Vaccine Committee (AIVC). 

Australia is transitioning from using quadrivalent influenza vaccine (QIV) to trivalent influenza vaccine (TIV) formulations for influenza immunisation. Refer to the ATAGI statement on the transition from quadrivalent to trivalent seasonal influenza vaccines in Australia for more information.

The AIVC recommended that the following viruses be used for influenza vaccines in the 2025 southern hemisphere influenza season:

Egg-basedquadrivalent influenza vaccines漍漍:
  • A/Victoria/4897/2022 (H1N1)pdm09-like virus;
  • A/Croatia/10136RV/2023 (H3N2)-like virus;
  • B/Austria/1359417/2021 (B/Victoria lineage)-like virus; and
  • B/Phuket/3073/2013 (B/Yamagata lineage)-like virus.

Cell- or recombinant- based quadrivalent influenza vaccines:

  • A/Wisconsin/67/2022 (H1N1) pdm09-like virus
  • A/District of Columbia/27/2023 (H3N2)-like virus;
  • B/Austria/1359417/2021 (B/Victoria lineage)-like virus; and
  • B/Phuket/3073/2013 (B/Yamagata lineage)-like virus.

Both egg-based and cell-based vaccines will be available in Australia in 2025 under the NIP.

Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) advice on influenza and COVID-19 vaccines

Influenza vaccines and COVID-19 vaccines can be administered on the same day. 

For more information, visit ATAGI clinical guidance for COVID-19 vaccine providers漍漍.

Influenza vaccine effectiveness

Vaccine effectiveness refers to improving a range of clinical outcomes such as disease incidence, hospitalisation or attendance at a GP practice. 

The effectiveness of the influenza vaccine varies from season to season for a variety of reasons, mainly related to the match with the circulating influenza viruses that are infecting people. 

In general, influenza vaccine effectiveness has been found to vary between 40-60 per cent. This means that on average, a vaccinated person is 40-60 per cent less likely to experience a negative health outcome, for example developing influenza and attending a GP practice or being hospitalised, than an unvaccinated person. 

The effectiveness of the vaccine may depend on other factors such as the age group affected, and the health outcome being measured (for example, hospitalisation or attendance at a GP). 

Vaccine effectiveness is generally lower in older people than in younger adults and children. 

Based on preliminary data, the 2024 influenza vaccine significantly reduced the risk of hospitalisation with influenza. Estimated vaccine effectiveness against general practice attendance was 62 per cent (95 per cent Confidence Interval CI: 45 per cent, 74 per cent). Estimated vaccine effectiveness against hospitalisation was 56 per cent (95 per cent CI: 48 per cent, 63 per cent).   

Visit the Australian Government's web page Influenza Surveillance Program漍漍 for a full report. 

There is also a useful Australian Government resource: Questions about vaccination.

Patients with allergies

Egg allergy

Egg allergy is not a contraindication to influenza vaccine. People with an egg allergy, including anaphylaxis, can be safely vaccinated with influenza vaccines, including egg-based and cell-based vaccines unless they have reported a serious adverse event following any vaccine.

People with a history of anaphylaxis to egg should receive a full age-appropriate vaccine dose; do not split the dose into multiple injections (for example, a test and then the rest of the dose).

If a patient has significant anxiety about their allergy, they can attend a medical facility with staff who are experienced in recognising and treating anaphylaxis and remain under supervision for a longer period of time.

For further information please refer to the Australasian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy (ASCIA), Vaccination of the Egg-allergic Individual Guidelines.

For children with severe egg allergy, vaccination under medical supervision can also be arranged at the 窪蹋勛圖厙 Immunisation Specialist Service (窪蹋勛圖厙ISS) by calling 1800 679 477.

Latex allergy

All influenza vaccines supplied under the NIP in 2025 are latex-free.

Use the following 'Influenza vaccination decision aid' to assist you with conducting pre-vaccination assessment with your patients.

Influenza vaccination decision aid - adults

This influenza vaccination decision aid (Appendix 1 in the Influenza Vaccination Provider Toolkit) can assist you with conducting pre-vaccination assessment with your patients.

Have you had a flu vaccination since March 2025?

  • If yes, the patient should not be vaccinated again. Only 1 in麍uenza vaccine is required each year (unless it is a child 9 years of age and it is the 麍rst year they are being vaccinated)
  • If no, ask next question.

Have you had anaphylaxis after a flu vaccination or to any component of the vaccine?

  • If yes, the patient should not receive the influenza vaccine
  • If no, ask next question.

Does the patient currently have a fever 38.5簞C?

  • If yes, you should delay administering the flu vaccine until the patient no longer has a fever
  • If no, ask next question.

Is the patient allergic to eggs?

漍漍Is the patient immuno-compromised?

Does the patient a past history of Guillain-Barr矇 syndrome?

Has the patient ever had a severe reaction after any vaccination?

  • If yes, the patient may be able to receive the flu vaccine however you will need to consider the reaction, possible cause and sequelae. Expert advice is available from 窪蹋勛圖厙ISS at SCHN-窪蹋勛圖厙ISS@health.nsw.gov.au.
  • If no, ask next question.

Is the patient 65 years of age?

  • If yes, patients aged 65 should receive Fluad簧 Quad which is specifically for this age group.
  •  If no, the patient is suitable for vaccination. Check eligibility for a NIP funded flu vaccine.

Reporting adverse events following immunisation

An adverse event following immunisation (AEFI) is any untoward medical occurrence which follows immunisation, and which does not necessarily have a causal relationship with the usage of the vaccine. It may be related to the vaccine itself or to its handling or administration. 

AEFIs are notifiable conditions under the 窪蹋勛圖厙 Public Health Act (2010). Suspected cases are to be notified by medical practitioners and other health professionals on diagnosis to your local public health unit.

To report a suspected AEFI漍漍, please download the National Adverse Events Following Immunisation (AEFI) Reporting Form漍漍 and contact your local Public Health Unit on 1300 066 055.

窪蹋勛圖厙 Health sends daily reports to the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) of all adverse event reports received.

To assist you to identify which patients experience an adverse event following immunisation, 釦鳥硃娶喧博硃單漍 is a program that extracts data from your practice software and sends SMS messages to your patients following vaccination.

Information is also available on the 窪蹋勛圖厙 Health website.

Influenza vaccine safety

Data on the safety of influenza vaccines is continuously monitored by the TGA and AusVaxSafety. There is extensive surveillance that demonstrates that the influenza vaccines now used in Australia have an excellent safety profile. Weekly updates are available on the AusVaxSafety website.

A useful Australian Government resource: Questions about vaccination漍漍.


Current as at: Monday 31 March 2025
Contact page owner: Immunisation