Flu Shot

What is Influenza?
Influenza (the flu), infects your respiratory system such as the nose, throat and lungs. The flu mainly spreads by coughing, sneezing, talking, and by touching a person’s hands, surface or object. It can cause mild to severe illness. Complications can include pneumonia and bronchitis.

Free flu vaccine eligibility
Currently, annual influenza vaccination is provided free through the National Immunisation Program (NIP) to groups who are at an increased risk of influenza complications. This includes:

• People aged 65 years and over
• Pregnant women
• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 15 years and over
• Anyone aged 6 months and over who has a chronic condition placing them at increased risk of complications from influenza
• If you are not eligible for a free flu vaccine, it is available for $15 per dose administered by our GP or Nurse.

Things you might not know

• There is no live virus in the flu shot
• The composition of the vaccine changes every year to combat the most common strains of influenza
• You should get a flu shot every year, even if you have been vaccinated the year before
• The flu shot is safe for pregnant women at all stages of their pregnancy.
• Children can begin to be immunised against the flu from six months of age.
• If your child has a chronic medical condition, she/he is at increased risk of severe flu or complications from flu