Australia’s flu season has hit early and hard this year. To help health professionals support their patients during the peak winter months, this page lists key information and resources for vaccination and protection against influenza, COVID-19, pneumococcal disease and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).
Influenza
Influenza can be life threatening, especially for vulnerable people. Vaccination is critical for people to not only protect themselves, but to reduce the risk of spread to others. Influenza vaccines can be given at the same time as others, including diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis (dTpa), respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), pneumococcal and COVID-19. For more information see the Australian Immunisation Handbook.
The influenza vaccine is free to eligible groups through the National Immunisation Program (NIP):
All Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged six months and older
Pregnant women during any stage of pregnancy
All people aged 65 years and older
People aged six months and older with medical conditions that may increase the risk of complications from severe influenza
Children aged six months to less than five years
If a person had a 2024 formulation of influenza vaccine in late 2024 or early 2025, it is still recommended that they receive a 2025 formulation of influenza vaccine once available. See ATAGI statement for more information.
The influenza vaccine is recommended for every pregnant person at any stage of pregnancy and can safely be given at the same time as a pertussis, RSV or COVID-19 or other vaccines indicated in pregnancy as required.
For pregnant women who received an influenza vaccine in 2024, it is recommended to also give the 2025 influenza vaccine if it becomes available before the end of pregnancy.
For pregnant women who receive influenza vaccine before becoming pregnant, revaccination is recommended during pregnancy to maximise the protection of the mother and the infant in the first six months of life.
Immunisation providers must report all influenza vaccine doses administered to the Australian Immunisation Register (AIR). Check that you use the correct influenza vaccine brand and AIR code: • VaxiGrip Tetra® – VAXTET • Flucelvax® Quad – FCELQD • Fluad® Quad – FLUQAD • FluQuadri® – FQUAD
Also ensure you report the correct batch numbers to AIR. Batch numbers are on the vaccine box or syringe. It is important to check this information is correct before submitting to AIR.
Government funded influenza vaccines are now available to order online for the National Immunisation Program (NIP) and the Victorian public hospital healthcare worker (HCW) influenza program. The Victorian Immunisation Unit advises: • Strict order limits are in place for NIP vaccine until Vaxigrip Tetra becomes available in mid-April. Any changes to order limits will be communicated via your Onelink ordering template. No order limits will be applied to Healthcare Worker vaccine • Order frequency: weekly orders (at least seven days apart) are supported April-June 2025 • Allow a minimum of five to seven days during influenza vaccine season for processing and delivery of your vaccine order. Note there are no deliveries to regional areas on Mondays • Refrain from placing another order until the previous order has been delivered • Report all vaccine stock on hand when placing an order • Order influenza and all other government funded vaccines in combined orders • Order vaccine quantities in doses, not packs • Report all vaccinations to the Australian Immunisation Register (AIR).
Providers may be required to justify requests and AIR encounters will be audited.
For further information regarding NIP-funded Influenza vaccines refer to:
COVID-19 can be life-threatening, especially in vulnerable people, and like influenza, vaccination is also critical for people to not only protect themselves, but to reduce the risk of spread to others.
People aged 75 years and over: booster dose recommended every six months
People aged 65 to 74 years: booster dose recommended every 12 months. Can consider every six months
People aged 18 to 64 years:
General population: consider booster dose every 12 months
Severe immunocompromise: booster dose recommended every 12 months. Can consider every six months
Adolescents aged 5 to 17 years:
General population: booster dose not recommended
Severe immunocompromise: consider booster dose every 12 months
Children aged under 5 years: booster dose not recommended
Children aged under 5 years: booster dose not recommended.
People aged 18 years and over: recommend a single dose primary course
People aged under 18 years: primary course not recommended
Adolescents aged 5 to 18 years:
With risk factors: consider a single dose primary course
With severe immunocompromise: recommend a two-dose primary course. Consider a third primary dose
Children aged 6 months to 5 years:
With risk factors: consider a two-dose primary Consider a third primary dose based on individual risk-benefit assessment.
With severe immunocompromise: recommend a two-dose primary Consider a third primary dose.
Children aged 6 months to 5 years:
With risk factors: consider a two-dose primary course. Consider a third primary dose based on individual risk-benefit assessment
With severe immunocompromise: recommend a two-dose primary course. Consider a third primary dose.
Pneumococcal disease
Pneumococcal disease is a bacterial infection that is especially serious for young children and older people. It can cause pneumonia, bloodstream infection and meningitis.
The optimal pneumococcal vaccination program for Australia is currently under review. At present Prevenar 13 (13vPCV) and Pneumovax 23 (23vPPV) are the pneumococcal vaccines funded under the NIP for eligible individuals. Updates to this chapter include interim recommendations for use of extended valency vaccines (Vaxneuvance [15vPCV] and Prevenar 20 [20vPCV]) in the populations for whom they have recently been registered by the Therapeutic Goods Administration; these vaccines are not currently NIP-funded.
The Australian Immunisation Handbook recommends pneumococcal vaccination for specific groups including:
Routine vaccination in infants and children
Non-Indigenous adults aged 70 years and over
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adults aged 50 years and over
Children, adolescents and adults with risk conditions for pneumococcal disease.
There are two types of pneumococcal vaccines provided free under the NIP: Prevenar 13 (13vPCV) and Pneumovax 23 (23vPPV) for different age groups and circumstances:
All children at two, four and 12 months of age (three doses in total)
An extra dose at six months for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children who live in Queensland, Northern Territory, Western Australia or South Australia, in addition to the three doses for all children (four doses in total)
Children under 12 months who have certain medical conditions that put them at higher risk of getting serious pneumococcal disease (six doses in total over a number of years)
All Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 50 years or older (three doses in total)
All non-Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 70 years or older (one dose)
All people 12 months and older who have who have certain medical conditions that put them at higher risk of getting serious pneumococcal disease (three doses in total).
Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV)
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a common, highly contagious virus that infects the airways and lungs. The main treatment for RSV infection is rest and plenty of fluids. Regular handwashing and good personal hygiene (covering coughs and sneezes) can stop RSV from spreading. For more about prevention, symptoms, diagnosis and treatment, visit healthdirect’s RSV page.
The Australian Immunisation Handbook recommends RSV vaccination for specific groups including:
Women at 28 to 36 weeks pregnancy
Infants and children under two years of age:
whose mothers were not vaccinated at least two weeks before delivery
who are at increased risk of severe disease
who have medical conditions or circumstances that increase their risk of RSV disease
States and territories provide the RSV immunisation product Beyfortus™ (nirsevimab) for free to eligible infants and children including:
Infants up to eight months and children up to two years:
whose mother did not receive the RSV vaccine during pregnancy
who were born within two weeks after the mother receiving an RSV vaccine
who have a condition or circumstance that increases their risk of severe RSV disease
Young children aged eight months to under two years who have certain risk conditions for severe RSV disease are recommended to receive the RSV immunisation product before their second RSV season.
The maternal RSV vaccine (Abrysvo®) is free under the National Immunisation Program (NIP) for women at 28–36 weeks pregnancy (prior to 37 weeks) to protect their baby. When a pregnant woman receives the maternal RSV vaccine, their immune system produces antibodies against RSV in the first couple of weeks after vaccination. These antibodies are transferred through the placenta to the baby’s bloodstream. The antibodies help protect the infant against RSV from birth. The process of providing antibodies from mother to baby is a form of passive immunisation and provides protection to the infant for up to six months from birth.
It is now mandatory for all vaccines administered to be reported to the AIR, including:
Information about the vaccine type for all vaccines prescribed by the AIR Rule including COVID- 19, Influenza, National Immunisation Program (NIP) and JEV vaccines
From March 2025, it is also mandatory requirement to report information whether an individual was pregnant at the time of vaccine administration.
Murray PHN acknowledges its catchment crosses over many unceded First Nations Countries, following the Dhelkunya Yaluk (Healing River).
We pay our respects and give thanks to the Ancestors, Elders and Young people for their nurturing, protection and caregiving of these sacred lands and waterways, acknowledging their continuing cultural, spiritual and educational practices.
We are grateful for the sharing of Country and the renewal that Country gives us. We acknowledge and express our sorrow that this sharing has come at a personal, spiritual and cultural cost to the wellbeing of First Nations peoples. We commit to addressing the injustices of colonisation across our catchment, and to listening to the wisdom of First Nations communities who hold the knowledge to enable healing. We extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
Leadership 
Collaboration 
Respect 
Accountability 
Innovation 
