2026 seasonal influenza vaccination
With flu season fast approaching, the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) has recently released a statement outlining its 2026 flu vaccine recommendations. The Australian Immunisation Handbook has also been updated.
The ATAGI statement highlights the key role of healthcare providers in promoting flu vaccination, with a recommendation from a healthcare provider the strongest predictor of vaccination. As trusted healthcare providers, ACCHOs can have a powerful impact on boosting flu vaccine uptake in Aboriginal communities.
A major development in 2026 is the introduction of the nasal spray flu vaccine (FluMist) as an option for children aged 2-17 years. And, in a change from previous recommendations, most healthy children aged 2 years and older now only need a single dose of flu vaccine, even when receiving it for the first time.
Other key points from the ATAGI statement include:
- Yearly flu vaccination is recommended and free under the National Immunisation Program for all Aboriginal people aged 6 months and older
- People should ideally receive flu vaccination before the flu season when it becomes available (around April)
- Flu vaccination is recommended in every pregnancy
- The nasal spray flu vaccine has equivalent effectiveness to injected vaccines
- Children with moderate or severe immunocompromise should continue to receive injected flu vaccine as the nasal spray vaccine is contraindicated
NSW Health is funding a limited number of FluMist doses for children aged from 2 years to <5 years, prioritising supply to the ACCHO sector. If you have difficulties securing adequate FluMist stock, please reach out to us at publichealth@ahmrc.org.au
Further resources:
- NSW Health’s updated Winter Respiratory Vaccination Toolkit, Immunisation Toolkit and nasal spray vaccine information page for health professionals
- The Australian Immunisation Handbook’s updated Influenza chapter
- The National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance (NCIRS) updated influenza vaccine FAQs
- NSW Health’s new childhood vaccination campaign and toolkit and personalised childhood vaccination schedule tool
Expanded JEV vaccine eligibility
With Japanese Encephalitis Virus (JEV) now present in most of NSW, free JEV vaccination should be recommended and offered to everyone who is eligible and ACCHOs can order from the State Vaccination Centre. NSW Health has recently expanded the eligibility criteria for free JEV vaccine and released a Clinician Alert with further details.
Under the expanded criteria, free JEV vaccination is now available to anyone aged 2 months or older who:
- Lives or works/volunteers in a high-risk Local Government Area (LGA)
- Is visiting a high-risk LGA for outdoor recreation such as camping, caravanning, boating, hunting and fishing (until 1 June 2026)
- Works in or is exposed to pig farming or certain stages of pork production, or works directly with mosquitoes
Eight further LGAs have been added to the list of high-risk LGAs, which now stands at 68 and covers most of NSW. JEV is now endemic in areas of NSW west of the Great Dividing Range and in the north-east corner (see map), with two NSW cases reported so far this mosquito season.
Recent cases highlight the importance of vaccination before travel to high-risk areas for outdoor activities. Six of the seven JEV cases in NSW in the past 2 years were linked to camping or caravanning in a high-risk area. Vaccination should therefore occur well ahead of potential exposure, as it takes 2-4 weeks for protective immunity to develop.
Expanded eligibility for people engaging in outdoor recreation in high-risk areas extends up to the start of winter, due to the current prolonged mosquito season in NSW.
Two JEV vaccines are available in NSW:
- Imojev (single dose) is registered for use in people aged 9 months and older and can be ordered directly from the State Vaccination Centre
- JEspect (two doses) is currently reserved for those who cannot receive Imojev, including pregnant women, immunocompromised people, and infants aged 2 to 8 months of age. To order, please contact your local Public Health Unit on 1300 066 055
See the Australian Immunisation Handbook for further information about JEV vaccination.
The AH&MRC Public Health team is available to support ACCHOs with any questions or concerns – please contact us at publichealth@ahmrc.org.au
