2026 Queensland Free Flu Vaccination Program
The Queensland Free Flu Vaccination Program starts from Sunday 1 March and finishes Wednesday 30 September 2026. The state-funded program aims to ensure all Queensland residents from 6 months of age can access the free influenza vaccine from their preferred general practice, pharmacist, or other immunisation provider.
With rising influenza (flu) cases linked to declining flu vaccination rates after the COVID-19 pandemic, please remember to offer the influenza vaccine to all your eligible patients.
Our General Practice Quality Improvement team can support your practice to identify eligible patients and establish goals for increasing your vaccination rates. Contact the Quality Improvement team via [email protected].
Details of the 2026 program
This year’s program:
is available to all Queensland residents, including residents without a Medicare card.
has expanded with a needle-free nasal spray flu vaccine for children (FluMist) aged 2 to 5 years (inclusive). FluMist is a nasally administered influenza vaccine, which is approved for use in Australia by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA).
FluMist will be made available for free across Queensland, in general practices, pharmacies, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community Controlled Health Services, and other community immunisation providers.
will use the same reimbursement model for immunisation providers as the 2025 program. Further information, including the reimbursement processes, FAQs and provider resources are available online.
Ordering and administering the vaccine
Providers will continue to receive state-funded influenza vaccines directly from the Queensland Health Immunisation Program (QHIP).
Vaccine providers should continue to order influenza vaccines through their usual process.
Vaccines are delivered in rollout stages. Pre-ordering vaccines for the next rollout begins 30 March 2026.
See important information on ordering vaccine stock and the rollout stages.
Reimbursement for vaccination providers
Providers will be able to seek reimbursement for influenza vaccines administered between 1 March and 30 September 2026, noting not all providers will have vaccine stock by 1 March 2026.
To be eligible for reimbursement:
the vaccine must be administered to a Queensland resident
the vaccination must occur between 1 March and 30 September 2026.
National Immunisation Program (NIP)
There are no changes for patients already eligible for free influenza vaccination under the National Immunisaiton Program (NIP). Providers should continue to administer the NIP vaccines for NIP-eligible patients. Registration with Queensland Health Immunisation Program (QHIP) is a governance requirement for access to NIP vaccines.
The program will reimburse vaccination service providers for privately purchased vaccines administered to Queenslanders not eligible under the NIP. General practitioners (GPs) do not have to change the way they currently bill for influenza vaccination consultation as a function of this program.
For patients not eligible for the NIP, vaccination service providers should continue to administer influenza vaccine from their privately purchased stock. Any remaining/unadministered stock from the current season will not be reimbursed.
More resources and support
Join leading industry experts for the annual On Target for Immunisation Workshop on 27 March 2026.
The Australian Immunisation Handbook provides clinical advice for health professionals on the safest and most effective use of vaccines in their practice.
Want support identifying patients eligible for flu vaccination?
Our Quality Improvement team can support your practice to identify eligible patients and establish goals for increasing your vaccination rates. Contact the Quality Improvement team via [email protected] or phone (07) 3864 7540.Morningside General Practice successfully transformed its influenza vaccination program, achieving an impressive 298% increase in vaccinations in 2024 compared to their 2023 rates, through a concerted quality improvement activity effort involving the whole practice team with support from a Brisbane South PHN Quality Improvement Coach. Read more about how Morningside General Practice were able to achieve their results.