Influenza vaccination

All Queensland residents over the age of 6 months can access the influenza vaccine for free in 2025.

Funded by the Queensland government, the 2025 Free Influenza Vaccination Program will commence from the 1st of March 2025. In keeping with the Queensland Government's commitment, no Queensland resident should be turned away or charged a fee for receiving their influenza vaccination.

Eligibility

There are no changes for people already eligible for free influenza vaccine under the NIP. Providers should continue to administer the NIP vaccines for NIP-eligible cohorts. Providers will continue to receive NIP funded influenza vaccines directly from the Queensland Health Immunisation Program (QHIP). Registration with QHIP is a governance requirement for access to NIP vaccines. 

For NIP eligible people, vaccine service providers should continue to administer the NIP vaccines received directly from QHIP. For people not eligible for NIP, vaccine service providers should continue to administer the influenza vaccine from their privately purchased stock. 

Reimbursement

Vaccination providers will be able to seek reimbursement from Queensland Health for influenza vaccines under the same arrangements as the 2024 program.

There will be a fixed rate reimbursement fee of $25 (excluding GST) for each privately purchased and administered influenza vaccine to non-NIP eligible people during the life of the Program.

In a similar way to the 2024 program, some providers may be able to seek reimbursement for the administration of NIP funded influenza vaccines. More information will be made available on this process prior to the commencement of the program.

Providers should make every effort to ensure that people who are eligible for a NIP funded influenza vaccine receive this vaccine type. Queensland Health may not reimburse claims for privately purchased influenza vaccines that are administered to NIP eligible persons.

The reimbursement of influenza vaccines will only apply to vaccines administered during the 2025 Program.

More information on the reimbursement process will be made available for providers prior to the program's commencement.

For further information, please email immunisation@health.qld.gov.au or visit the website.

2025 Influenza vaccines

Whilst the reimbursement program commences for any influenza vaccines given from 1 March 2025, not all providers will have vaccine stock by this date.

Vaccines should continue to be ordered through your usual process.

For NIP eligible people, vaccine service providers should continue to administer the NIP vaccines received directly from QHIP.

For people not eligible for NIP, vaccine service providers should continue to administer influenza vaccine from their privately purchased stock. Providers should keep in mind any remaining/unadministered stock from the current season will not be reimbursed.

People can receive their COVID-19 vaccine at the same time as their influenza vaccine. For more information, please refer to the Australian Immunisation Handbook.

Vaccination timing 

Annual influenza vaccination is recommended from April onwards for protection during the peak season. This is typically June to September in most parts of Australia. Vaccination should continue as long as influenza viruses are circulating, and a valid vaccine is available. 

Special considerations include: 

• Young children aged 6 months to less than 9 years. Children should receive 2 doses of influenza vaccine given at least 4 weeks apart in the first year they receive the vaccine 
• Pregnant women are recommended to receive the vaccine at any stage during pregnancy
• People travelling to destinations where influenza is circulating. This can be year-round in the tropics