2026 Seasonal Influenza Vaccines

Influenza vaccines can change from year to year as new strains of influenza virus appear. This is one reason vaccination against influenza is given every year.

The Australian Influenza Vaccine Committee (AIVC) reviewed and evaluated epidemiology, antigenic and genetic data of recent influenza isolates circulating in Australia and the southern hemisphere. Serological responses to the 2024-2025 vaccines, and the availability of candidate vaccines viruses and reagents were also reviewed by the Committee. Based on this review and the World Health Organization's recommendation, the AIVC recommended the viral strains to be used for influenza vaccines in the 2026 southern hemisphere influenza season. We have accepted the recommendations of AIVC. This year there are two new strains, a A(H1N1)-like and a A(H3N2)-like virus strain, when compared to the composition of influenza vaccines for Australia in 2025.

The egg-based trivalent influenza vaccines contain the following three viral strains:

• an A/Missouri/11/2025 (H1N1)pdm09-like virus
• an A/Singapore/GP20238/2024 (H3N2)-like virus
• a B/Austria/1359417/2021 (B/Victoria lineage)-like virus.

Cell-based trivalent influenza vaccines contain the following three viral strains:

• an A/Missouri/11/2025 (H1N1)pdm09-like virus
• an A/Sydney/1359/2024 (H3N2)-like virus
• a B/Austria/1359417/2021 (B/Victoria lineage)-like virus.

The WHO have recommended that the B/Yamagata lineage component is no longer warranted in seasonal influenza vaccines and thus no longer updating the quadrivalent B/Yamagata linage component. This is because the Yamagata lineage of the influenza B virus has not circulated for several years. This position is supported by the AIVC (ATAGI statement on the transition from quadrivalent to trivalent seasonal influenza vaccines in Australia).

The transition of southern hemisphere seasonal influenza vaccines to trivalent formulation is occurring in 2026 within Australia. For this, all 2026 southern hemisphere seasonal influenza vaccines available for use in Australia are trivalent influenza vaccines (TIVs) and thus exclude the B/Yamagata lineage virus.

Influenza and COVID-19 vaccination

Can I have the Influenza and COVID vaccine at the same time?

COVID-19 vaccines can be co-administered (that is, given on the same day) with an influenza vaccine. Studies demonstrate the safety and immunogenicity of co-administration of COVID-19 and influenza vaccines.

Further information for health professionals and consumers regarding influenza and COVID-19 vaccines is available from the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) website.

Registered products

For the 2026 influenza season, the following seven influenza vaccines, will be available for use in Australia for the age groups listed against each product.

^# FluMist is a nasally administered live attenuated influenza vaccine (LAIV). This product is new to the Australian market in 2026.

The following TIVs will be available only on the private market for 2026:

• Fluzone for children aged 6 months and older
• Fluzone High-Dose for 60 years and older
• Influvac for children aged 6 months and older.

All other vaccines in the table above will be available free of charge on the National Immunisation Program (NIP). Flucelvax produced using mammalian cell culture is also available on both the private market and on the NIP. FluMist (LAIV) will be available on the private market and in some states under state sponsored programs.

Influenza vaccine dose for all ages is 0.5 mL, with the exception of the intranasal vaccine, FluMist which is a 0.2 mL dose.

For more information on individual vaccines, please refer to the relevant Product Information document or Consumer Medicine Information document.

In conjunction with state and territory health authorities, the Department of Health, Disability and Aging will be closely monitoring adverse event reports during the 2026 influenza vaccination program.

Vaccines for use in children

All children aged 6 months to less than 5 years are eligible to receive free annual influenza vaccines under the NIP.

Four vaccines are registered for children from 6 months and over: Flucelvax, Fluzone, Influvac and Vaxigrip.

FluMist, the LAIV nasal spray (needle-free) presentation, is also available for children aged between 2 years and less than 18 years. This vaccine is available on the private market and will be available under state sponsored programs; New South Wales, Queensland and South Australia will provide FluMist for children aged 2 to up to 5 years old, whilst Western Australia will provide FluMist for children aged 2 to up to 11 years old.

For more information on state-based influenza programs, please see state and territory immunisation schedules.

Vaccines for use in under 65s

For people aged under 65 years, four vaccines are available: Flucelvax, Fluzone, Influvac and Vaxigrip.

Flucelvax and Vaxigrip are being supplied under the NIP in 2026 for people aged under 65 years who are in the following at risk groups:

• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
• Pregnant women
• People who have certain medical conditions.

Flucelvax, Fluzone and Influvac are available on the private market.

Fluad is also available on the private market for people aged 50 to 65 years and Fluzone High-Dose for people aged 60 to 65 years.

Vaccines for use in over 65s

All people aged 65 years and over are eligible for free influenza vaccines under the NIP.

Six vaccines in the above table of products are registered for use in those aged over 65 years.

The adjuvanted TIV Fluad and the non-adjuvanted Fluzone High-Dose are specifically for use in elderly.

Fluad can be used in individuals from 50 years of age and above and is available on the NIP.

Fluzone High-Dose can be used in individuals from 60 years of age and above and is available on the private market.

What is in the influenza vaccine?

Information on specific ingredients included within individual influenza vaccines can be found on the label of the medicine, the Product Information (PI) and Consumer Medicine Information (CMI) leaflets for each individual vaccine. You can ask your pharmacist for a copy or find it through our CMI database by searching the product's name. The CMI provides the full list of ingredients for each product.

Additionally, information on medicines supplied in Australia, including ingredients, can be located by searching the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods (ARTG) either by product name or ARTG number.

Seasonal influenza vaccines available within Australia do not contain any thiomersal/mercury.

Formaldehyde is used in the early stages of manufacture of some influenza vaccines as an inactivation agent. The formaldehyde is removed in the latter stages of manufacture, and the product is tested to ensure formaldehyde levels are below detectable limits before the final product can be released.

All seasonal influenza vaccines available this year are latex free. However, the possibility that the product may have come into contact with instruments which contain latex cannot be excluded. Patients who are extremely sensitive to latex should consult their doctor for advice.

Fluad contains an adjuvant to induce a greater immune response to the vaccine in people aged over 50 years. Fluzone High-Dose has a higher content of antigen to induce a greater immune response in people aged over 60 years.

FluMist is a live attenuated vaccine and the only intranasal (needle-free) product available in Australia. The product is approved for children and adolescents.

Six of the seven seasonal influenza vaccines use eggs in the manufacturing process. Flucelvax is produced using mammalian cell culture and does not contain egg proteins.

Further information

Information for health professionals is available from ATAGI Influenza Statement. This includes information on the timing of vaccines becoming available for the 2026 season and also the recommended interval between influenza and COVID-19 vaccines.

Information for consumers is available from NPS MedicineWise.

For more information see Influenza vaccine: the annual Southern Hemisphere influenza vaccine production and the regulatory approval timeline.

Reporting of adverse events following influenza vaccine

Health professionals and consumers are encouraged to report all adverse events associated with influenza vaccination in patients of any age to us or through the current arrangements in their state or territory.

All reports contribute to our ongoing monitoring of the safety of influenza vaccines.

We cannot give advice about an individual's medical condition. You are strongly encouraged to talk with a health professional if you are concerned about a possible adverse event associated with a vaccine or medicine.