Travel and Influenza Vaccination

Influenza is the most common vaccine-preventable health risk for travellers. The bottom line recommendation for people travelling is: get vaccinated, take precautions and make sure your travel insurance covers the flu and any antiviral medication you might need.

It is particularly important for high-risk people to get immunised.

The Northern Hemisphere vaccine is not registered in Australia and, therefore, is never available here.

The 2020 Australian vaccine is now available and contains:

an A/Brisbane/02/2018 (H1N1)pdm09-like virus;
an A/South Australia/34/2019 (H3N2)-like virus;
a B/Washington/02/2019-like (B/Victoria lineage) virus; and
a B/Phuket/3073/2013-like (B/Yamagata lineage) virus.

Because it takes 1-2 weeks to develop immunity after vaccination it may not be wise to await arrival overseas before vaccination.  For people staying any length of time it MAY be possible to receive a booster of local vaccine after arrival.

Visit your nearest Travel Clinic for an up-to-date vaccination before you travel. 

 

Last updated:  26 March 2020