Influenza vaccine

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 five 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.  

If your child is aged between 6-months and less than 9-years and getting the flu vaccine for the first time, they will need two doses of the vaccine, spaced 4 weeks apart. This ensures they get the maximum immune response. After this, your child will only require one dose every year.

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. 

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.