Children and flu vaccines
All children aged 6 months to under 5 years are recommended to receive government funded flu vaccines. Flu can cause serious illness and even death in healthy children.
Influenza viruses change each year. Vaccines are developed to match the commonly circulating strains, so you should get your child vaccinated every year.
Having your child vaccinated significantly reduces a child’s risk of needing hospitalisation or of dying from influenza. Vaccinating children also protects others around them, including babies, people with low immunity and the elderly as young children are more likely to spread the infection to others.
Vaccinated children may have milder illness if they are infected with influenza.
To develop strong protection, children under 9 years of age should have 2 doses, at least 4 weeks apart in the first year they receive the flu vaccine. After the first year, they only need one dose each year.
Find out more about influenza.
When to get your child vaccinated
The flu vaccine is part of the childhood immunisation schedule from 6 months of age to under 5 years.
It is recommended that babies receive their first dose of flu vaccine with their 6-month immunisations at any time of the year when vaccine is available. There is a short period each year when the influenza vaccine is not available. Talk to your immunisation provider for more information.
After their first year, it is recommended that your child receives the flu vaccine each year as soon as it becomes available.
If your child doesn’t get the vaccine in autumn, they can still receive the influenza vaccine any time through the year. It is never too late to vaccinate against influenza. While cases of flu peak in late winter, infections occur all year around.
Children 5 years and older
If your child is 5 years of age or older and has a medical condition or other risk factor that increases their risk of influenza-related health complications, they may be eligible to receive the funded influenza vaccine.
If your child is not eligible for the funded influenza vaccine, talk to your General Practitioner (GP) about private vaccination.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children
All Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples aged 6 months and older are eligible for free influenza vaccines.
You can access the funded vaccine through your GP or Winnunga Nimmityjah Aboriginal Health Service.
How we know the vaccine is safe
The influenza vaccine is safe and recommended for all people aged over 6 months.
All vaccines must pass strict safety testing before being approved for use in Australia.
A national program called AusVaxSafety monitors real time adverse reactions to influenza vaccines using patient feedback. This monitoring system receives data regarding children who have been vaccinated since 2015.
Further information on vaccine safety is available on the Sharing Knowledge About Immunisation (SKAI) website.