Defend Yourself This Flu Season – Book Your Influenza Vaccination Today!
In Australia, it is recommended that all people aged 6 months and older get a flu vaccination to reduce the risk of getting influenza and its complications. Flu is more serious than a common cold with sufferers often restricted to their bed for up to a week or more and unable to work or care for loved ones. WholeLife Pharmacy & Healthfoods is offering flu vaccinations administered by one of our qualified pharmacists. Book your flu vaccination at WholeLife today. Please note, minimum age restrictions, as well as fees, may apply.
It’s never too late to get the flu vaccination. In recent years, the peak flu season has been between June and August. Although more prevalent in winter, you can get the flu all year round, especially if you travel overseas. Australian guidelines recommend that everyone over 6 months of age receive an annual flu vaccination, not just to protect themselves, but also to prevent passing on the flu to high-risk groups, including those over 65 and people with respiratory conditions such as asthma.
Who qualifies for free flu vaccination?
Please talk to our friendly WholeLife Pharmacy team about any questions or concern that you have about flu vaccination as it can be confusing.
Under the National Immunisation Program (NIP), all Australians from the following groups are eligible to receive a government-funded flu vaccination:
- children aged 6 months to under 5 years
- adults aged 65 and over
- specific population groups aged 5 through under 65 who are at increased risk of complications from influenza, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, pregnant women and people with certain medical conditions
Did you know that there is a needle-free flu vaccine for children aged between 2 years to 17 years? The intranasal influenza vaccine is administered by a spray into the nose – no needles are used!
Children living in Queensland, New South Wales and Western Australian may be eligible to receive the intranasal flu vaccine for free, funded by your State Government:
- Queensland – 2 to 5 years
- New South Wales – 2 to 4 years
- Western Australia – 2 to 12 years
Some state or territory governments offer -funded flu vaccinations beyond the NIP or other programs, including*
- Queensland: all Queenslanders are eligible for a free flu vaccine, from March to September 2026 .
*subject to change if government initiative changes.
Some age restrictions apply and vary by state or territory. Fees may apply, depending on eligibility criteria for free vaccine. Please read booking information to confirm eligibility and fees for various vaccine types. Or consult with our WholeLife pharmacy team.
Note – not all WholeLife Pharmacy & Healthfoods take online flu vaccination bookings. If you cannot find your preferred pharmacy on the online booking platform, use the Store Locator to make a booking by calling the store directly.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Can you tell me more about the nose spray flu vaccine?
FluMist™ is administered as a nasal (nose) spray and is used for flu prevention in children and adolescents aged 24 months to less than 18 years. It is a convenient needle-free option for flu vaccination in those who are afraid of needles. It is not for everyone though, including those with a severe egg allergy or those with severe asthma, or anyone under 2 or over 18 years of age. If you are unsure about eligibility of your child for the needle-free flu vaccine, ask a WholeLife Pharmacy team member.
If I got a flu vaccination last year, do I need to get another one for this year?
Yes! The composition of the influenza vaccines is updated each year to ensure you are protected against the most prevalent virus strains seen in recent outbreaks around the world. Receiving the flu vaccination protects not just yourself, but also your loved ones from getting the flu. This is especially important if you have a loved one over 65 around you, or someone in a high-risk group.
I didn’t get a flu vaccine last year and I never got the flu. Why should I bother this year?
We understand that you may be reluctant, but vaccination remains the number one way to reduce your risk of contracting the flu. Many viruses, including influenza, are very clever and mutate and change their composition over time to protect themselves against things that destroy it. The strength and power of the virus can differ from one year to the next, including how easily and quickly it can spread. Your exposure level and immune system status can change from one year to the next so while you may not have been sick last year, it’s still worth protecting yourself regardless.
Can the flu vaccine give you the flu?
No, it is not possible to get the flu from the flu vaccine. Most people experience no side effects after the flu vaccination, but some may get some mild side-effects such as pain or redness near the injection site or muscle aches, sleepiness or even a low-grade fever. These may make you feel like you ‘caught’ the flu from the vaccine, but the vaccine does not contain live flu virus so it can’t cause the flu. These symptoms actually tell you that the vaccine is working hard in your body to build your immunity, and they should resolve in a day or two. Ask our WholeLife pharmacist if a fever medication is right for you to help manage these effects.
If you have concerns or experience a high fever, please consult your pharmacist or doctor.
Are you sure I'm not too late to get my flu vaccination?
It’s never too late! Although peak flu season is generally between June and August, it’s possible to catch the flu all year round. Everyone aged 6 months and over is recommended to get the flu vaccination. If you are travelling overseas, consider their flu season is different than Australia.
