12/03/2026
When is the best time to get your flu vaccination? 🗓️
In Australia, influenza usually peaks between June and September, which is why health authorities such as the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) recommend getting vaccinated from April onwards so your immunity is strongest during winter.
However, recent seasons have shown that flu activity isn’t always predictable.
For example:
• In 2025, Australia recorded more than 480,000 laboratory-confirmed influenza cases, one of the highest seasons on record.
• Influenza activity continued late into spring in NSW, with over 3,000 cases reported in a single week in November, well outside the typical winter peak.
• Surveillance data from the National Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System (NNDSS) has also shown that influenza cases can occur throughout the year, with occasional early peaks or prolonged seasons.
Because of this unpredictability, health experts recommend getting vaccinated when the vaccine becomes available, rather than delaying too long.
It takes about 10–14 days for your body to build protection, and vaccination remains the most effective way to reduce your risk of severe illness and hospitalisation from influenza.
Flu vaccines are expected to arrive late March or early April.
If you would like to be notified when they arrive, you can join our Flu Vaccination Waitlist here:
https://carmendrivepharmacy.com.au/
We’ll notify you as soon as the vaccines arrive so you can book your vaccination.
