Queensland Health 2024 Influenza vaccination advice

Annual influenza vaccination is the best way to protect against severe disease and complications from influenza. The Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) recommends influenza vaccination for all people aged 6 months and over.

In 2024, all Queenslanders aged 6 months and over can receive free influenza vaccination.

Vaccine strains

The vaccine can change from year to year as new strains of influenza appear, which is why it is important to schedule influenza vaccination annually to ensure you are protected.

The 2024 seasonal influenza vaccines for the southern hemisphere include the following strains:

Egg-based quadrivalent influenza vaccinesCell-based or quadrivalent influenza vaccines
A/Victoria/4897/2022 (H1N1) pdm09-like virus A/Wisconsin/67/2022 (H1N1) pdm09-like virus
A/Thailand/8/2022 (H3N2)-like virus A/Massachusetts/18/2022 (H3N2)-like virus
B/Austria/1359417/2021 (B/Victoria lineage)-like virus B/Austria/1359417/2021 (B/Victoria lineage)-like virus
B/Phuket/3073/2013 (B/Yamagata lineage)-like virus B/Phuket/3073/2013 (B/Yamagata lineage)-like virus

Note: The chosen egg-based and cell-based viruses will sometimes differ if one virus cannot be used for both production systems. In this case, different viruses with similar properties are selected for vaccine production.

Further information about influenza vaccines can be found at the Therapeutic Goods Administration website

Timing for vaccination

Influenza disease is highly infectious and occurs year-round. Infection rates tend to increase during the cooler months between May and October with the peak commonly occurring in August. In tropical areas, the pattern can be more variable and may include clusters outside this period.

Annual vaccination should ideally occur before the onset of each influenza season. Vaccinating from April provides protection before the peak. While protection is generally expected to last for the whole season, the best protection against influenza occurs within the first 3 to 4 months following vaccination.

It is never too late to vaccinate since influenza can circulate in the community all year. Vaccination should continue to be offered as long as influenza viruses are circulating, and a valid vaccine (before expiration date) is available.

Pregnant women and international travellers can benefit from vaccination at any time of year.

It is also important to remind people the vaccine is not immediately effective, and it generally takes 10 to 14 days to be protected.

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

COVID-19 vaccination timing

Influenza vaccines can be co-administered (given on the same day at the same appointment) with any COVID-19 vaccine. Refer to the ATAGI recommendation on the “Timing of administration of other vaccines”.

Additional information - the Australian Immunisation Register

It is mandatory to record all influenza vaccinations administered on the Australian Immunisation Register (AIR). From 1 March 2024, legislative changes require vaccination providers to report additional details to the AIR.  Further information can be found on Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care. It is important that clinical software is updated to meet the new reporting requirements.

Eligibility for influenza vaccines funded by the National Immunisation Program

Annual influenza vaccination is recommended for all people from 6 months of age.

Influenza vaccines are funded under the National Immunisation Program (NIP) for the following groups:

  • Children aged 6 months to less than 5 years.
  • People aged 65 years or over.
  • Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 6 months and over.
  • Pregnant women at any stage of pregnancy.
  • People aged 6 months and over who have a medical condition that is associated with an increased risk of influenza disease complications.
  • A list of these conditions is available in the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) clinical advice statement

Refer to the 2024 Influenza Advice (eligibility and vaccines) for more information. (PDF 713 kB)

In 2024, all NIP funded influenza vaccines available are quadrivalent vaccines (QIV) including the adjuvanted (enhanced) influenza vaccine for adults aged 65 years and older.

A single NIP funded influenza vaccine is available for eligible people each year, with the exception of eligible children up to 9 years of age receiving an influenza vaccine for the first time. These children require and are funded for 2 doses, 4 weeks apart.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples

Influenza vaccination is recommended and funded under the NIP for all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people from 6 months of age. The disease burden from influenza is significantly higher among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people than non-Indigenous Australians in all age groups. Take every opportunity to offer influenza vaccination to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients.

Children

Influenza vaccine is recommended and funded under the NIP for all children aged 6 months to less than 5 years. Children aged 6 months to less than 5 years are at higher risk of complications from influenza. Even healthy children can become seriously ill from influenza.

Two doses are recommended and funded in the first year of vaccination (at least 4 weeks apart). While 2 doses in the first year are recommended, one dose will provide some protection and is preferable to receiving no doses. One annual dose of influenza vaccine is required in following years even if only one dose was given in the first year.

Refer to the additional dosage requirements for children aged 6 months to less than 9 years who are receiving influenza vaccine for the first time.

Across Australia in 2023, only 28.3% of children aged under 5 years of age were recorded as receiving at least one dose of influenza vaccine on the AIR. It is important to increase uptake in 2024 to protect all young children.

Medically at Risk

Influenza vaccine is recommended and funded under the NIP for all people aged 6 months with certain medical conditions. A list of these conditions is available at, the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) clinical advice statement.

Vaccination is particularly important for people with underlying medical conditions as they are at high risk of complications from influenza.

Pregnant women

Influenza vaccination is recommended and funded under the NIP for pregnant women at any stage of pregnancy. Influenza vaccination should be offered to all pregnant women as part of routine antenatal care.

Women who acquire influenza during pregnancy have an increased risk of complications and a higher risk of preterm birth.

Vaccinating pregnant women also protects their infants from influenza in the first 6 months of life.

Women who received an influenza vaccine in 2023 are also recommended to receive the 2024 influenza vaccine if it becomes available before the end of pregnancy.  Women who received the vaccine before becoming pregnant should be revaccinated during pregnancy to protect the unborn infant.

Influenza vaccine can safely be given at the same time as the pertussis vaccine (between 20 and 32 weeks) and/ or COVID-19 vaccine during pregnancy.

People 65 years and older

Influenza vaccination is recommended and funded under the NIP for all people aged 65 years and over. Vaccination is particularly important for people in this age group as they are at high risk of complications from influenza.

Fluad® Quad, the adjuvanted influenza vaccine is recommended in preference to standard influenza vaccine for adults aged 65 years and over. However, if this vaccine is not available vaccination with another quadrivalent influenza vaccine is preferable to no vaccination.

Eligibility for Influenza vaccines funded by the Queensland Government

All Queensland residents over the age of 6 months can access the influenza vaccine for free in 2024.

Please refer to the 2024 Free Flu Vaccination program site for further information.

Influenza vaccine safety

Contraindications: The only contraindications to influenza vaccines are:

  • Anaphylaxis following a previous dose of any influenza vaccine.
  • Anaphylaxis following any vaccine component (excluding eggs).

People with egg allergy: People with egg allergy, including a history of anaphylaxis, can be safely vaccinated with any influenza vaccines (including egg-based and cell-based vaccines) unless they have reported a serious adverse reaction to influenza vaccines. See also:  Vaccinating people with a known egg allergy in Vaccination for people who have had an adverse event following immunisation.

People with latex allergy: All influenza vaccines available under the NIP in 2024 are latex free and people with a latex allergy can safely be vaccinated.

Please refer to the Australian Immunisation Handbook for further information about Influenza vaccine safety

Adverse events following vaccination: Under the Public Health Act 2005, adverse events following immunisation are a notifiable condition. Notification of all adverse events following immunisation at any age should be made by submitting an Adverse Events Following Immunisation Reporting Form.

Vaccine administration errors: Vaccine administration errors (VAEs) can occur because of errors in vaccine preparation, handling, storage, or administration and can be associated with immunisation error-related reactions. Identification and follow-up of VAEs can identify and correct immunisation error-related reactions in a timely manner and is essential to ensuring the quality and safety of a vaccination service.

VAEs that may pose a safety risk to the patient, regardless of whether an adverse event following immunisation has occurred, must also be reported to Queensland Health using the Adverse Events Following Immunisation Reporting Form.

Vaccine storage and handling

Correct vaccine storage and handling processes play an important role in protecting individuals and communities from vaccine-preventable diseases. For general recommendations and guidance, refer to the National Vaccine Storage Guidelines “Strive for 5”. For Queensland Health specific information visit the Cold chain breaches | Queensland Health webpage.

Dosage and Administration

The ATAGI statement on the administration of seasonal influenza vaccines in 2024 provides a table of the vaccines registered for use in Australia in 2024 by age.  Vaccination providers should refer to this document along with the Australian Immunisation Handbook and the  Immunisation Schedule Queensland prior to administering any influenza vaccine.

More information

Last updated: 7 March 2024