– Mohamed Abdul Rahuman
Winter is here, and with it comes Australia’s annual flu season. After a record-shattering 2025 — the worst influenza year in Australia’s history — health experts are urging every Australian to take this season seriously. The good news? There’s a simple, proven way to protect yourself and the people you love.
When is flu season in Australia?
Unlike countries in the northern hemisphere, Australia’s flu season runs through the cooler months — typically peaking between June and September. The 2025 season was especially brutal, with a new dominant strain called “Super-K” (a subtype of Influenza A H3N2) extending illness from May all the way through November.
Why the flu shot is so important
The flu is not just a bad cold. It can cause serious complications — pneumonia, hospitalisation, and in vulnerable people, death. Annual vaccination is the single most effective tool we have to reduce that risk.
The 2026 flu vaccine has been updated with two new strains compared to 2025, targeting the viruses predicted to circulate this season. It is formulated using global surveillance data from the World Health Organisation and leading research institutions like the Doherty Institute here in Melbourne.
Who should get vaccinated?
The short answer: everyone 6 months and older. But some groups are at higher risk of severe illness and have priority access to free vaccines under Australia’s National Immunisation Program:
The average age of kids hospitalised for flu is just five. Only 1 in 4 are currently vaccinated.
Free enhanced or high-dose vaccines are available, offering stronger protection for older immune systems.
Diabetes, heart disease, asthma and other conditions significantly increase severe flu risk.
Vaccination protects both mum and newborn in the first months of life.
What’s new in 2026?
This year brings an exciting development for needle-averse kids: FluMist, a nasal spray flu vaccine, is now available in Australia for children aged 2 and above. No needle required — just a quick spray in each nostril. Several states including NSW, Queensland, South Australia, and Western Australia are offering it free for young children.
All 2026 seasonal vaccines are trivalent (covering three strains), following the WHO’s recommendation to remove the B/Yamagata component from formulations this year.
Common myths — busted
“I got the flu vaccine last year — I’m still covered.”
Flu viruses mutate every year. The 2025 vaccine won’t protect against the new dominant strains in 2026. A fresh shot each year is essential.
“I’m young and healthy — I don’t need it.”
Healthy adults can still spread flu to vulnerable people around them. Vaccination protects your whole community, not just you.
“The flu shot made me sick last time.”
Mild symptoms after vaccination are a normal immune response — not the flu itself. They typically resolve within 1–2 days.
References
[1] Hudson Institute of Medical Research — Flu and you: what you need to know in 2026
https://hudson.org.au/news/flu-and-you-what-you-need-to-know-in-2026/
[2] Doherty Institute — What to expect from the 2026 flu season
https://www.doherty.edu.au/articles/what-to-expect-from-the-2026-flu-season/
[3] Victorian Department of Health — Seasonal influenza vaccine
https://www.health.vic.gov.au/immunisation/seasonal-influenza-vaccine
[4] The Australian Immunisation Handbook — Influenza (flu)
https://immunisationhandbook.health.gov.au/contents/vaccine-preventable-diseases/influenza-flu
[5] Therapeutic Goods Administration — 2026 Seasonal Influenza Vaccines
https://www.tga.gov.au/resources/publication/corporate-reports/2026-seasonal-influenza-vaccines
[6] National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance (NCIRS) — Influenza vaccines FAQs
https://ncirs.org.au/influenza/influenza-vaccines-frequently-asked-questions-faqs
