It is recommended that your child is vaccinated against influenza (the flu) every year. Every year in Australia, hundreds of children get so sick from influenza they need to be treated in hospital. Most of them are babies and children under 5 years old.  

Getting the flu shot each year protects your child from the types of flu that are expected to be the most common that flu season. This is because influenza strains change each year, and protection from the flu shot decreases after a few months. The best time to get the flu shot for your child is April or May before the influenza season starts.  

Most children only need to receive a single dose of flu vaccine each year.

We recommend children in the following categories who are getting the flu vaccine for the first time to receive 2 doses of the vaccine, spaced 4 weeks apart, to ensure they gain the maximum immune response:

• Infants and children aged 6 months to under 2 years 
• Children aged 6 months to 9 years with a medical condition that increases their risk of becoming seriously ill from flu.

By getting the flu shot, your child will be less likely to get influenza and less likely to get the serious conditions that influenza can cause, such as severe lung infections (pneumonia) or swelling in the brain (encephalitis).  

Sydney Children's Hospitals Network is offering free flu vaccinations at The Children's Hospital at Westmead and Sydney Children's Hospital, Randwick. 

As well as injectable flu vaccines for all age groups, Flumist, a nasal spray vaccine is now also available for free for children aged 2, 3 and 4 years.

To book an appointment, please complete an individual registration form for each person requiring a flu vaccination. We accept bookings for children, parents, and caregivers.