Funded Influenza Immunisation Schedule

Funded Influenza Immunisation Schedule

Free influenza vaccine is available for the following groups

  • Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people from 6 months of age.
  • Children 6 months to less than 5 years of age.
  • Pregnantwomen.
  • Peoplemedically at risk from 6 months of age (see table below).
  • People ≥65 years of age.

Print version

2019 Influenza Vaccines available by age

Before administering an influenza vaccine, check you have the correct vaccine for the person’s age.

 

Quadrivalent Vaccines

Trivalent vaccine (for ≥65 years only)

Registered age group

FluQuadri Junior 0.25mL (Sanofi)

Fluarix Tetra 0.50mL (GSK)

FluQuadri 0.50mL

(Sanofi)

Afluria Quad 0.50mL

(Seqirus)

Fluad 0.50mL
(Seqirus)

<6 months

X

X

X

X

X

6 to 35 months (<3 years)

Y

Y

X

X

X

≥3 years to <5 years

X

Y

Y

X

X

≥5 years to <65 years

X

Y

Y

Y

X

≥65 years

X

Y

Y

Y

Y

recommended

¨ Fluarix Tetra is a 0.5ml dose for all children aged 6 to 35 months.

Note: Children aged 6 months to less than 9 years of age should have two doses at least 4 weeks apart in the first year of receiving the flu vaccine. Both doses are funded. In subsequent years, one dose of vaccine per year is required.

Risk Factors*

Cardiac Disease

  • Cyanotic congenital heart disease
  • Congestive   heart failure
  • Coronary artery disease

Chronic Respiratory Conditions†

  • Bronchiectasis
  • Cystic fibrosis
  • Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
  • Chronic emphysema
  • Severe asthma
  • Suppurative   lung disease

Chronic Neurological Conditions†

  • Hereditary   and degenerative central nervous system diseases (including multiple   sclerosis)
  • Spinal cord injuries
  • Seizure disorders
  • Neuromuscular   disorders

Other At Risk Conditions

  • Immunocompromised   due to disease or treatment (e.g. malignancy, transplantation and/or chronic steroid use) ‡
  • Asplenia or splenic dysfunction
  • HIV infection
  • Diabetes
  • Chronic metabolic disorders
  • Chronic renal failure
  • Haemoglobinopathies
  • Long-term   aspirin therapy in children aged 6 months to 10 years

* Refer to the online edition of the Australian Immunisation Handbook (AIH) for further details for people with medical conditions that increase their risk of influenza.

Influenza immunisation is strongly recommended for people who have the following conditions (but immunisation is not funded for such people unless they also fall under one of the categories in the table above):

    * Down syndrome.
    * Obesity, defined as body mass index (BMI) ≥30 kg/m2.
    * Chronic liver disease (defined as histological evidence of fibrosis or cirrhosis, or clinical evidence of chronic liver disease).

† People who have any condition that compromises the management of respiratory secretions or is associated with an increased risk of aspiration should be immunised.

‡ People with certain immunocompromising conditions (i.e. haematopoietic stem cell transplant, solid organ transplant) receiving influenza vaccine for the first time post transplant are recommended to receive 2 vaccine doses at least 4 weeks apart (irrespective of age) and 1 dose annually thereafter.

This resource is developed by the Department of Health, Public Health Services,– Communicable Diseases Prevention Unit.

Updated April 2019