Every year, the flu season arrives with the same quiet certainty as the cold mornings and shorter days that come with it. And every year, the most reliable thing you can do to protect yourself and the people around you is simple: get vaccinated.
The 2026 flu vaccines are now available at all FTMC practices, and with a few important changes to this year’s program, it’s worth taking a moment to understand what’s on offer, who qualifies for a free vaccination, and why getting in early makes a real difference.
What Is Influenza, and Why Does It Matter?
Influenza – the flu – is a highly contagious respiratory virus that circulates through communities every autumn and winter but can remain circulating into the summer months also. It spreads easily through the air when someone coughs, sneezes or talks, and can also survive on surfaces for several hours. Unlike a common cold, influenza tends to come on suddenly and hit hard – fever, body aches, severe fatigue, headaches, a dry cough, and sometimes vomiting and diarrhoea, particularly in children.
For most healthy adults, the flu means a week or two of feeling genuinely miserable, followed by a recovery period that can drag on longer than expected. But for others, it can be far more serious. Young children, pregnant women, people aged 65 and over, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, and anyone living with a chronic health condition are at significantly higher risk of complications including pneumonia, myocarditis (inflammation of the heart), secondary bacterial infections, and hospitalisation. In some cases, particularly for older adults and those with underlying conditions, influenza can be fatal.
In 2025, influenza caused widespread illness across Australia, with hospitalisations placing sustained pressure on regional health systems – including those serving communities like ours in the Great Lakes region. Getting vaccinated doesn’t just protect you; it reduces the spread to people who are more vulnerable and helps keep our local health services functioning well for everyone who needs them through winter.
It’s also worth remembering that influenza is not the same as the common cold. People sometimes dismiss flu-like symptoms as “just a cold” and push through without seeking care. If you or someone in your household develops a sudden high fever alongside muscle aches and fatigue, it’s worth getting checked out – particularly if you’re in a higher-risk group.
What’s New in 2026?
This year’s flu program comes with a couple of notable changes worth knowing about.
Vaccines are now trivalent. Recent flu vaccines have been quadrivalent – meaning they covered four strains of the virus. From 2026, all seasonal influenza vaccines in Australia are trivalent, covering two influenza A strains and one influenza B strain. This change follows a recommendation from the World Health Organization, which determined that the B/Yamagata lineage – previously included as the fourth component – has not been circulating for several years and no longer needs to be covered. This isn’t a reduction in effectiveness; it’s the program adapting to where the virus is. The 2026 vaccine strains have been selected based on the most recent data on circulating influenza viruses in Australia and the southern hemisphere, including two new A strains not included in last year’s vaccine.
A nasal spray vaccine is now available for children. For the first time in Australia, an intranasal influenza vaccine called FluMist is available for children aged 2 to 17 years. Rather than an injection, it’s administered as a gentle nasal spray – welcome news for children who find needles stressful, and for the parents and nurses who navigate that experience with them. In New South Wales, FluMist is available for free through a state-funded program for children aged 2 to under 17 years. Not every child is suitable for FluMist – it’s not recommended for children with severe asthma or certain immune conditions – so speak with your GP to find out whether it’s the right choice for your child.
Enhanced vaccines remain available for older adults. For adults aged 65 and over, higher-intensity formulations are available that are specifically designed to produce a stronger immune response. These include the adjuvanted vaccine Fluad and the high-dose vaccine Fluzone High-Dose, both of which are equally recommended over standard-dose vaccines for this age group. Immune function naturally declines with age, which is why standard-dose vaccines can produce a weaker response in older adults. The enhanced formulations are designed to compensate for this. Your GP can advise which is most appropriate for you.
Who Gets a Free Flu Vaccine Under the NIP?
The National Immunisation Program (NIP) provides free influenza vaccines for the following groups, who are at greatest risk of serious illness:
- Children aged 6 months to under 5 years
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 6 months and over
- Pregnant women (at any stage of pregnancy)
- Adults aged 65 years and over
People aged 6 months and over with certain medical conditions that increase the risk of complications – including heart disease, diabetes, kidney disease, chronic respiratory conditions such as asthma or COPD, obesity, and conditions affecting the immune system. Eligibility for at risk groups is based on severity of disease.
If you’re in one of these groups and haven’t booked your flu vaccine yet now is the time. If you’re not sure whether your medical condition qualifies, your GP can confirm your eligibility at your next appointment.
For those who don’t fall into an eligible group, the flu vaccine is still strongly recommended and is available at an affordable out-of-pocket cost across all our practices. Annual vaccination is the single most effective measure available to reduce your risk of influenza – and even when vaccinated individuals do contract the flu, the illness is typically milder and shorter than it would have been without vaccination and will reduce the incidence of hospitalisation.
How Does the Flu Vaccine Work?
Each year, researchers and health authorities around the world monitor which influenza strains are circulating and predict which are most likely to be dominant in the coming season. The seasonal flu vaccine is formulated to match those strains as closely as possible.
When you receive the vaccine, your immune system is exposed to inactivated fragments of the virus – enough to trigger an immune response and build antibody protection, but not enough to cause illness. If you later encounter the real virus, your immune system is primed to recognise and respond to it quickly.
Because influenza viruses mutate rapidly, the vaccine composition is updated each year. This is why annual vaccination is recommended even if you had the flu vaccine last year – last year’s immunity may not fully protect against this year’s circulating strains.
It’s a common concern that the flu vaccine can give you the flu. It cannot. The vaccines available in Australia are not “live “vaccines but contain inactivated virus components – they cannot cause influenza infection. Some people experience a sore arm, mild fatigue, or a low-grade temperature in the day or two after vaccination; these are signs of an immune response, not illness.
When Should You Get Vaccinated?
The peak of flu season in Australia typically runs from June through to September, with regional areas like ours often feeling the effects acutely as people gather indoors during cooler weather. Getting vaccinated from April onwards gives your body time to build protection well before the season hits its stride.
Flu vaccines are available now at all FTMC practices. There’s no benefit in waiting – earlier vaccination means better protection across the full season. It takes around two weeks after receiving the vaccine for your immune system to build its full level of protection, so getting in during April or May puts you in the best possible position.
If you’ve recently had the flu, vaccination is still recommended once you’ve recovered. The vaccine covers multiple strains, and having been infected with one strain doesn’t protect you against others that may be circulating.
Can I Have the Flu Vaccine at the Same Time as Other Vaccines?
Yes. The flu vaccine can be safely co-administered with a range of other recommended vaccines, including the COVID-19 vaccine, and for eligible groups, pneumococcal vaccine (for those 70 years and over) & the new RSV vaccine Arexvy – which was added to the National Immunisation Program from 15 May 2026 for those aged 75 years and over. Combining vaccinations into a single appointment is safe, efficient, and convenient, particularly for older adults or those with busy schedules. Your GP can advise what makes sense for your individual circumstances.
A Note for Families with Young Children
If you have children under 5, this is a good year to make sure they’re protected. Young children are among the highest-risk groups for serious flu complications – their immune systems are still developing, and influenza can escalate quickly in this age group. The NIP funds free vaccination for all children under 5, and the availability of FluMist as a nasal spray option in NSW this year means many families will find the experience significantly easier.
Even if your child has received a flu vaccine before, they should receive an updated vaccine each year. If this is your child’s first year having flu vaccination the following 2026 recommendations apply:
For healthy children or children with medical at-risk conditions aged 6 months to < 2 years; 2 doses of injectable flu vaccine are recommended, 4 weeks apart.
For healthy children aged 2yrs to < 9 years; 1 dose of nasal spray flu vaccine for those aged 2, 3 & 4 years (unless contraindicated), 1 dose of injectable flu vaccine for 5 years to < 9 years (or can purchase nasal spray on private script from the GP, unless contraindicated)
Children with medical at-risk condition aged 2 years to < 9 years; 2 doses of injectable flu vaccine, 4 weeks apart (or can purchase 2 nasal spray vaccines on private script from the GP, unless contraindicated)
Children aged 9 years to 17 years; 1 dose of injectable flu vaccine (or can purchase nasal spray on private script from the GP, unless contraindicated)
Your GP or nurse will advise which applies to your child.
A Note for Older Adults
Many older adults put off getting vaccinated, often because they feel well, assume the flu won’t be that serious, or aren’t aware that the free enhanced formulations are available to them. The reality is that people aged 65 and over face substantially higher risks from influenza – longer hospitalisations, slower recovery, and significantly higher rates of serious complications. The enhanced vaccines available for this group are specifically designed to provide stronger protection, and getting in early means being covered well before winter’s peak.
If mobility or transport is a barrier to getting to one of our practices, please let us know when you call – our team can help you find the most accessible option available.
Looking After the Whole Community
One of the most important things to understand about flu vaccination is that it isn’t just a personal health decision. When enough people in a community are vaccinated, the spread of the virus slows – and people who cannot be vaccinated, or who may not respond as strongly to the vaccine, receive an indirect layer of protection from everyone around them.
The Forster-Tuncurry community has a significant number of older residents, young families, and people managing chronic health conditions – exactly the people for whom influenza poses the greatest risk. When we vaccinate, we’re looking out for each other.
If you have any questions about the flu vaccine, which option is right for you, or whether you qualify for a free vaccination under the NIP, don’t hesitate to reach out. Our team across all four practices is ready to help.
Book your flu vaccination online or call us on (02) 6555 0444.
