Influenza immunisation season now underway across the Murrumbidgee
Murrumbidgee Primary Health Network is supporting the 2026 Influenza Vaccination Program as a key preventive health measure to help protect patients from serious illness, reduce flu-related complications and hospitalisations, and ease seasonal pressure on primary care and hospital services across the Murrumbidgee.
Annual influenza vaccination is recommended for all people aged 6 months and over, unless contraindicated. The National Immunisation Program funds influenza vaccines for people most at risk, making it an important opportunity for immunisation providers to support timely access and improve uptake ahead of peak influenza activity.
The Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation has now released its annual advice on seasonal influenza vaccines for 2026, including eligibility criteria for the live attenuated influenza vaccine. In response to these changes, NCIRS has updated its influenza immunisation resources to support health providers, including revised influenza FAQs with information about LAIV, a new comparison resource for health professionals outlining the differences between the inactivated influenza vaccine and the live attenuated vaccine, and a new table summarising state and territory funding arrangements for the intranasal flu vaccine in 2026.
The Department of Health, Disability and Ageing has also released a suite of 2026 program materials, and recordings of the NCIRS webinar, Influenza vaccination in 2026: a new era of protection, are now available alongside other clinical resources.
Clinical resources for practices
The following resources are available to support immunisation providers:
2026 influenza vaccination – Program advice for vaccination providers
Getting vaccinated against influenza - resource collection 2026
National Immunisation Program Schedule (updated)
SKAI communication package: Conversations with parents and pregnant women around influenza vaccination.
NCIRS influenza immunisation resources page, including webinar recordings and updated provider resources
MPHN encourages all immunisation providers to review the latest advice and resources and begin seasonal influenza vaccination conversations early, particularly with patients at higher risk of severe disease.