With flu season on the way for another year, Australians are being encouraged to get vaccinated against the disease ahead of winter, particularly with COVID-19 circulating through the community.
Influenza can cause serious illness and even death, so vaccination is free for a number of different groups.
Here’s everything you need to know about getting your flu – and coronavirus – jab.
Who should get the flu shot, and why should I get one?
Anyone older than six months old should get vaccinated against influenza ahead of the flu season, according to the federal health department.
While it’s important for everyone to get a shot, authorities have said it’s particularly so for at-risk groups – people who are at risk of getting seriously sick if they catch influenza.
This includes people older than 65, pregnant women, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, children aged between six months and five years, and people with a co-morbidity.
When should I get a flu shot and how long does protection last?
The Australian health department recommends getting an influenza vaccine anytime from April onwards, to protect against the flu season which typically runs from June to September.
It says the highest level of protection from the jab is the first three to four months.
If you’re unsure about when exactly to get a shot, have a chat to your pharmacist or GP about when will be best for you.
Can you get your flu shot and COVID-19 booster at the same time?
Yes. The influenza vaccine can be taken at the same time as a COVID-19 booster dose.
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“If you are aged 65 and over, or at higher risk of severe illness, we recommend you receive a 2023 COVID-19 vaccine booster, as both flu and COVID-19 vaccines can be given at the same time,” NSW chief health officer Dr Kerry Chant said.
Anyone in Australia aged over 18 can get a COVID-19 booster if it’s been six months or longer since their last dose and it’s been six or more months since their last confirmed infection.
Under the Australian government’s National Immunisation Program, the influenza vaccine is free if you are:
- An Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander person older than six months old
- Aged between six months to five years
- Pregnant
- More than 65 years old
- More than six months old and have a medical condition that creates a higher risk of getting serious disease. These include cardiac disease, chronic respiratory conditions, chronic neurological conditions and immunocompromising conditions.
Will the flu shot give me the flu?
No. None of the influenza vaccines available in Australia contain live viruses, so they cannot cause the illness.
However, some people will experience flu-like side effects from the vaccine, including:
- drowsiness or tiredness
- muscle aches
- pain, redness and swelling at the vaccine injection site
- occasionally an injection-site lump which may last for many weeks
- mild fever
While similar to the symptoms of flu, these are just side effects, not the actual disease.
Answers to the most commonly Googled questions about COVID-19
Does the flu shot protect against COVID-19?
No. The flu shot provides protection against several strains of influenza, but it doesn’t impact COVID-19, which is a completely different virus.
As such, people who are eligible for another dose of a COVID-19 booster have been urged to get one, and boosters for both illnesses can be taken at the same time.
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