Flu Vaccine 2026 — What’s New This Year?
Influenza vaccines for 2026 are now available at Hampton and South Medical Centre. Here’s a quick summary of what’s new this year and who should consider vaccination.
What's New in 2026
New Option: FluMist® Intranasal Vaccine
For the first time in Australia, a nasal spray flu vaccine is available.
- Age group: Children 2–17 years
- Type: Live attenuated (weakened) influenza virus
- Administration: Medically supervised
- Cost: Approximately $50 (via pharmacies/private prescription)
This may be particularly helpful for children who are anxious about injections.
FluMist is not recommended for children with moderate to severe immunocompromise or during pregnancy.
2026 Influenza Strains
This year’s vaccines are trivalent (3 strains), updated to match circulating viruses:
- A/Missouri/11/2025 (H1N1)pdm09
- A newer H1N1 strain
- Updated from recent Northern Hemisphere surveillance
- Designed to improve protection against evolving H1N1 variants
- A/Singapore/GP20238/2024 (H3N2)-like virus
- H3N2 strains often cause more severe illness in older adults
- This update reflects recent circulating global strains
- B/Austria/1359417/2021 (Victoria lineage)-like virus
- Influenza B strain
- Continues to circulate internationally
- Particularly relevant for children and younger adults
These strains are selected annually using global WHO surveillance data to match expected circulating viruses.
Vaccines Available at Hampton and South Medical Centre
We currently stock:
Fluad®
- Recommended for age 65+
- Contains an adjuvant to boost immune response
- Particularly helpful due to immunosenescence (age-related immune decline)
Vaxigrip®
- Standard influenza vaccine
- Suitable for adults and children (depending on eligibility)
Free Vaccines — Who Is Eligible?
Eligibility under the National Immunisation Program remains unchanged:
Free flu vaccines are available for:
- Children 6 months to under 5 years
- Pregnant women (any stage)
- First Nations people 6 months and over
- Adults 65 years and over
- People 6 months and over with certain medical conditions including:
- Heart disease
- Lung disease
- Diabetes
- Kidney disease
- Immunocompromise
- Neurological conditions
Can Flu Vaccines Be Given With Other Vaccines?
Yes — influenza vaccines can safely be given at the same visit as:
- RSV vaccine (pregnancy and infants; private for older adults)
- Whooping cough vaccine
- COVID-19 booster
- Shingles vaccine
We now have COVID-19 vaccines available at Hampton and South Medical Centre, allowing convenient same-day vaccination.
COVID booster recommendations:
- Age 65+: annually
- Age 75+: every 6 months
Why Vaccination Matters — Especially With Age
During the pandemic we learned about immunosenescence — the immune system becomes less effective with age.
Vaccination helps:
- Reduce severity of illness
- Reduce hospitalisation
- Reduce risk of influenza pneumonia
- Reduce ICU admission risk
Even if vaccination doesn't prevent infection entirely, it often prevents severe illness.
Additional Ways to Reduce Flu Risk
Simple measures still help:
- Hand washing
- Coughing into your elbow
- Staying home when unwell
- Wearing a mask when appropriate
I particularly recommend mask use during air travel — having personally reviewed cabin air quality data, transmission risk remains significant in crowded airport and boarding environments.
When to Get Vaccinated
- Vaccination is recommended from April onwards
- Protection develops in 10–14 days
- Vaccination can still be given later in the season
Book Now
Appointments are now available at Hampton and South Medical Centre.
Flu vaccination remains the most effective way to reduce your risk of serious influenza this winter.