The Australian Government provides a free seasonal influenza vaccine to those most at risk of complications from influenza. There are no new eligibility cohorts for NIP influenza vaccines in 2025.
The following table provides information on the age-appropriate NIP vaccines for 2025.
Before administering an influenza vaccine, check you have the correct vaccine for the person's age. Ages are identified on the syringe.
About the following table:
Before administering an influenza vaccine, check you have the correct vaccine for the person’s age at time of administration.
The composition of influenza vaccines for the Southern Hemisphere is reviewed by the World Health Organization annually in September, and then subsequently determined by the Australian Influenza Vaccine Committee (AIVC).
Australia is transitioning from using quadrivalent influenza vaccine (QIV) to trivalent influenza vaccine (TIV) formulations for influenza immunisation. Refer to the ATAGI statement on the transition from quadrivalent to trivalent seasonal influenza vaccines in Australia for more information.
The AIVC recommended that the following viruses be used for influenza vaccines in the 2025 southern hemisphere influenza season:
Cell- or recombinant- based quadrivalent influenza vaccines:
Both egg-based and cell-based vaccines will be available in Australia in 2025 under the NIP.
Influenza vaccines and COVID-19 vaccines can be administered on the same day.
For more information, visit ATAGI clinical guidance for COVID-19 vaccine providers.
Vaccine effectiveness refers to improving a range of clinical outcomes such as disease incidence, hospitalisation or attendance at a GP practice.
The effectiveness of the influenza vaccine varies from season to season for a variety of reasons, mainly related to the match with the circulating influenza viruses that are infecting people.
In general, influenza vaccine effectiveness has been found to vary between 40-60 per cent. This means that on average, a vaccinated person is 40-60 per cent less likely to experience a negative health outcome, for example developing influenza and attending a GP practice or being hospitalised, than an unvaccinated person.
The effectiveness of the vaccine may depend on other factors such as the age group affected, and the health outcome being measured (for example, hospitalisation or attendance at a GP).
Vaccine effectiveness is generally lower in older people than in younger adults and children.
Based on preliminary data, the 2024 influenza vaccine significantly reduced the risk of hospitalisation with influenza. Estimated vaccine effectiveness against general practice attendance was 62 per cent (95 per cent Confidence Interval CI: 45 per cent, 74 per cent). Estimated vaccine effectiveness against hospitalisation was 56 per cent (95 per cent CI: 48 per cent, 63 per cent).
Visit the Australian Government's web page Influenza Surveillance Program for a full report.
There is also a useful Australian Government resource: Questions about vaccination.
Egg allergy is not a contraindication to influenza vaccine. People with an egg allergy, including anaphylaxis, can be safely vaccinated with influenza vaccines, including egg-based and cell-based vaccines unless they have reported a serious adverse event following any vaccine.
People with a history of anaphylaxis to egg should receive a full age-appropriate vaccine dose; do not split the dose into multiple injections (for example, a test and then the rest of the dose).
If a patient has significant anxiety about their allergy, they can attend a medical facility with staff who are experienced in recognising and treating anaphylaxis and remain under supervision for a longer period of time.
For further information please refer to the Australasian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy (ASCIA), Vaccination of the Egg-allergic Individual Guidelines.
For children with severe egg allergy, vaccination under medical supervision can also be arranged at the NSW Immunisation Specialist Service (NSWISS) by calling 1800 679 477.
All influenza vaccines supplied under the NIP in 2025 are latex-free.
Use the following 'Influenza vaccination decision aid' to assist you with conducting pre-vaccination assessment with your patients.
This influenza vaccination decision aid (Appendix 1 in the Influenza Vaccination Provider Toolkit) can assist you with conducting pre-vaccination assessment with your patients.
Have you had a flu vaccination since March 2025?
Have you had anaphylaxis after a flu vaccination or to any component of the vaccine?
Does the patient currently have a fever ≥ 38.5°C?
Is the patient allergic to eggs?
Does the patient a past history of Guillain-Barré syndrome?
Has the patient ever had a severe reaction after any vaccination?
Is the patient ≥ 65 years of age?
An adverse event following immunisation (AEFI) is any untoward medical occurrence which follows immunisation, and which does not necessarily have a causal relationship with the usage of the vaccine. It may be related to the vaccine itself or to its handling or administration.
AEFIs are notifiable conditions under the NSW Public Health Act (2010). Suspected cases are to be notified by medical practitioners and other health professionals on diagnosis to your local public health unit.
To report a suspected AEFI, please download the National Adverse Events Following Immunisation (AEFI) Reporting Form and contact your local Public Health Unit on 1300 066 055.
NSW Health sends daily reports to the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) of all adverse event reports received.
To assist you to identify which patients experience an adverse event following immunisation, SmartVax is a program that extracts data from your practice software and sends SMS messages to your patients following vaccination.
Information is also available on the NSW Health website.
Data on the safety of influenza vaccines is continuously monitored by the TGA and AusVaxSafety. There is extensive surveillance that demonstrates that the influenza vaccines now used in Australia have an excellent safety profile. Weekly updates are available on the AusVaxSafety website.
A useful Australian Government resource: Questions about vaccination.
