You’ve started to notice people coughing in the supermarket, and on the bus this morning, someone sneezed as you reached for your bottle of hand sanitiser.
Yep, cold and flu season is upon us.
Luckily, there are a few things you can do to protect yourself this flu season, including washing your hands regularly, using hand sanitiser and rolling up your sleeve to get your yearly flu vaccination.
Scroll on to find out everything you need to know about the 2026 flu vaccine.
Why should I get a flu vaccine in 2026?
It’s recommended that everyone from the age of six months old and up, roll up their sleeves for a flu vaccination every year, to protect themselves from the most common strains circulating through the community.
This year, it’s more important than ever to get your flu vaccine, as experts are expecting a worse than usual flu season, after summer’s ‘Super-K’ flu, and a decline in vaccination rates.
“We’re anxious about the fact there is high-circulating flu in the summer, which means it’s here, ready to take off early,” Immunisation Coalition chairman Rod Pearce told the ABC earlier this year.
“We’re really nervous about low [vaccination] rates because people seem to be forgetting how nasty the flu is,” he continued. “Under-vaccination means less people are protected and more vulnerable people are vulnerable [to the disease].”
What’s different about the 2026 flu vaccine?
There are a few changes to the flu vaccine this year.
In 2026, older Australians will able to get a higher dose of the vaccine, which will be more effective.
And some Australian kids, between the ages of 2–17, will be able to have the vaccine administered through a nasal spray, instead of an injection, for the first time.
When can I get the flu vaccine in 2026?
You can roll up your sleeve for the 2026 flu vaccine from April onwards.
Australia’s peak flu season is between June and September. It takes about 14 days for the flu vaccine to become fully effective and people typically have the highest level of protection against the viruses in the three to four months after they are vaccinated.
How much does the flu vaccine cost?
People over 65, children aged between six months and five years old, pregnant women, and those with chronic health conditions, can be vaccinated for free under the National Immunisation Program (NIP).
The flu vaccine normally costs between $20-$38 for private, non-eligible individuals, depending on where they get their shot. The high dose vaccine is usually around $75.
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