Influenza immunisation

The National Immunisation Program and the WA Department of Health provides free influenza vaccines for people most at risk. This includes:

• Aboriginal people 6 months and over
• Children aged 6 months to under 5 years
• Primary school aged children (pre-primary to Year 6)
• People aged 6 months or over who have medical conditions such as:
  • heart disease
  • kidney disease
  • chronic respiratory conditions
  • chronic illnesses that required regular medical attention or hospitalisation in the previous year
  • chronic neurological conditions
  • immunocompromising conditions
  • haematological disorders
  • diabetes and other metabolic disorders
  • children aged 6 months to 10 years receiving long-term aspirin therapy.
• Vulnerable persons aged 6 months and older, including:
  • persons experiencing homelessness
  • residents in congregate living settings, such as residential aged care, disability care, mental health hostels and youth group houses.
• Pregnant people (at any stage of pregnancy)
• People 65 years and older
• WA Health staff members.

Please see the WA Immunisation Schedule and refer to the Influenza chapter on the Australian Immunisation Handbook (external site) for detailed advice, including vaccine dosage, and contraindications.

Free influenza vaccines will be available during May and June to all Western Australians aged 12 to 64 years who do not meet the above eligibility.

From 1 May to 30 June 2024, participating immunisation providers (general practices, community pharmacies, Aboriginal Medical Services, nurse practitioner clinics, corporate vaccination service providers and community health clinics) can administer free state-funded influenza vaccines to people aged 5 to 64 years who are not otherwise eligible for a vaccine under the National Immunisation Program (NIP) outlined in the accordion above.

In addition, interstate/international visitors and those without a Medicare card are also eligible for a state funded influenza vaccine from 1 May to 30 June 2024.

Note:

• As a condition of receiving free vaccines, all immunisation providers must not charge patients for the vaccine.
• While all immunisation providers are recommended to not charge an administration fee, community pharmacists participating in the program must not charge an administration fee.
• All vaccines administered must be recorded onto the Australian Immunisation Register (AIR).

Vaccine – FluQuadri

The Free Influenza Vaccine Program May and June 2024 provides the FluQuadri vaccine. Influenza vaccines ordered for this Program should not be administered to NIP-eligible people, and vice-versa.

Ordering vaccine

Free influenza vaccines can be ordered via the Onelink portal (external site).

Providers without a Onelink account may apply for an account using the Onelink account application form (external site). More information is available on the Vaccine ordering webpage.

Pharmacy reimbursement program

Community pharmacies who would like to participate in the program during May and June 2024 must register to participate to ensure they can claim reimbursement payments from the Department of Health.

More information is available on the Free influenza vaccine program - Information for pharmacists webpage.

More information

• Immunisation provider information and resources to learn more about WA Department of Health processes and resources available, such as education requirements, mandatory reporting, adverse events following immunisation, cold chain management, and more.
• The WA Immunisation Schedule for the vaccine brands available to specific cohorts 

Providers should consider vaccinating in the months prior to the peak influenza season, which typically spans July to October in WA. Influenza vaccination should continue to be offered while the influenza virus remains in circulation, and a valid vaccine is available.

For a brief summary of General Practice and hospital emergency department sentinel surveillance data on influenza-like illness, subscribe to Virus WAtch (a weekly electronic publication by CDCD and key collaborators).  For Australian Influenza Surveillance Reports, visit the Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care website (external site).

Optimal protection against influenza occurs within 3 to 4 months following vaccination. During the influenza season, look for opportunities to provide influenza vaccination to persons at increased risk of influenza during visits for routine medical care.

If a person had a 2023 formulation influenza vaccine in late 2023 or early 2024, they are still recommended to receive a 2024 formulation influenza vaccine.

People who are planning international travel should ensure they have had a 2024 influenza vaccination before departure.

• Providers are highly recommended to review the 2024 Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) Statement on the administration of seasonal influenza vaccines (external site).
• The influenza module on Immunisation education has been updated for 2024. Completion of the module is recommended for all immunisation providers and compulsory for those working under the CEO of Health SASA .The Immunisation education webpage also contains a link to the influenza update session. (March 2024).
• Influenza vaccine can be co-administered with most other vaccines (external site), including COVID-19 vaccines.

It is a mandatory requirement for immunisation providers to report influenza vaccine administrations to the Australian Immunisation Register (external site). Ensure you are using the correct brand name, dose number and batch number.

The new ‘vaccine type’ field should be used to record specific details of the vaccine administered, e.g. National Immunisation Program (NIP) or state funded. If the recipient is pregnant, antenatal should be selected in preference over the funding source.

Refer to Immunisation provider information and resources webpage for more information.

AusVaxSafety (external site) conduct routine safety monitoring of seasonal influenza vaccines. Surveillance data are based on vaccine safety surveys sent in the days following influenza vaccination.

This rapid safety surveillance can provide reassurance to individuals that the influenza vaccines used in Australia are safe. To learn more about the latest vaccine safety data, including specific age and population groups, visit AusVaxSafety (external site)

Refer to the Adverse events following immunisation webpage for information about reporting any adverse events following an influenza vaccine.

The adjuvanted Fluad® Quad vaccine is preferentially recommended for persons aged 65 years or over. This product is not licensed or recommended for anyone aged <65 years.