All people aged ≥6 months are recommended to receive influenza vaccine every year

All people ≥6 months of age are recommended to receive annual influenza vaccine.^1,2

A single annual dose of influenza vaccine is recommended for most people. Usually, receiving 2 separate doses in the same season is not recommended, but not contraindicated.

The exception is that 2 doses at least 4 weeks apart are recommended for:

• children aged 6 months to <2 years receiving influenza vaccine for the first time
• children aged 6 months to <9 years with a medical risk condition receiving influenza vaccine for the first time
• people of any age receiving influenza vaccine for the first time after haematopoietic stem cell, solid organ transplant or CAR T-cell therapy

People aged ≥6 months can receive either standard-dose egg-based or cell-based influenza vaccine. Those aged 2 to less than 18 years can receive either intramuscularly-administered inactivated influenza vaccine or intranasally-administered live attenuated influenza vaccine (LAIV), except when the latter is contraindicated.

People aged ≥50 years can receive either standard-dose or adjuvanted influenza vaccine.

Influenza vaccine is NIP funded for certain groups where the benefits of vaccination in preventing severe disease are higher, including: children 6 months to <5 years, people aged ≥65 years, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples aged ≥6 months, people with certain medical conditions aged ≥6 months and pregnant women. See ATAGI advice on seasonal influenza vaccines for 2026 for NIP funded vaccines.