The 2017 National Immunisation Program seasonal influenza vaccines are currently being distributed around the country.
Key features of the 2017 NIP influenza vaccines
The flu vaccine is recommended for everyone from six months of age, but is available free under the National Immunisation Program for people who face a high risk from influenza and its complications.
- Four age-specific quadrivalent influenza vaccines (QIVs) will be available free to eligible people under the NIP, including:
- pregnant women
- people aged 65 years and over
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged
- six months to less than five years
- 15 years and over
- People aged six months and over with medical conditions predisposing them to severe influenza
- Recent evidence suggests that protection following influenza vaccination may begin to wane after three to four months and timing of vaccination should aim at achieving the highest level of protection during the period of influenza virus circulation, usually around August.
- Please consider the special needs of pregnant women (who should receive the vaccine at any stage during pregnancy), people travelling to a destination where influenza is circulating, and young children six months to nine years of age (who should have two doses in the first year they receive the vaccine).
- The flu vaccine is recommended for everyone from six months of age. You might be interested in reading this article: ‘Millions of Australian adults are unvaccinated and it’s increasing disease risk for all of us‘.
Flu vaccine can be extremely important for people who come into contact with vulnerable people – like the elderly, young or sick – and getting vaccinated reduces the risk that of passing it on.
The below materials are also available on the Immunise Australia Website.
Resources
- FACT SHEET – for consumers, including frequently asked questions
- FACT SHEET – for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
- BROCHURE – for pregnant women, including the benefits of influenza vaccination during pregnancy
More immunisation resources can be found on our Immunisation Program page.