A new flu vaccine each autumn is the simplest protection against influenza. Pharmacist immunisers at Your Community Pharmacy give it to adults and children. The vaccine is updated every year for the strains expected that season, and protection is strongest in the first three to four months, so last winter's dose will not carry you through this one.
For the full list of vaccines we give, see walk-in vaccinations.
Who should have a flu vaccine each year
Australian guidance recommends a flu vaccine every year for everyone aged 6 months and over. Influenza is especially serious for babies, young children, pregnant women and people with underlying medical conditions. At a pharmacy in NSW the minimum age is 2 years, under the NSW Health eligibility table, so babies under 2 are vaccinated by a GP or immunisation clinic instead.
Free flu vaccine in Newport: who qualifies
The vaccine itself is free under the National Immunisation Program (NIP) for:
- children aged 6 months to under 5 years
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 6 months and over
- pregnant women, at any stage of pregnancy
- people aged 65 years and over
- people with certain medical conditions, such as heart disease, chronic lung conditions, kidney disease, diabetes or a weakened immune system
Outside these groups you pay for the vaccine. Ask the pharmacist about cost and eligibility, including whether a condition you live with counts. If you are 65 or over, it is worth asking at the same time about the free shingles vaccine, and from 75 about an RSV vaccine.
When to have your flu vaccination
New season vaccines usually arrive from April. Having the needle from then on covers you for the peak of the season, generally June to September. Influenza circulates all year, though, so a late dose still helps. A flu vaccine can be given on the same day as a COVID-19 vaccine. Pregnant women are also offered the whooping cough vaccine in each pregnancy. Read about this year in flu season 2026 and winter tips in flu shots and RATs.
Flu vaccination in Newport: what happens on the day
- Walk in during opening hours. There is no appointment and no booking fee.
- Bring photo ID, your Medicare card if you have one, and any record of past vaccinations.
- Answer a few health questions, then have the injection in the upper arm in a private consultation area.
- Your dose is recorded on the Australian Immunisation Register.
- Stay nearby for at least 15 minutes before leaving.
Wondering about scripts? Our article on flu shot prescriptions answers that; see also our walk-in flu clinic post.
After your flu vaccine
Common reactions are tiredness, muscle aches, a mild fever and some pain, redness or swelling where the needle went in. They usually pass within a couple of days. Occasionally a small lump forms at the injection site and lasts several weeks; it needs no treatment. If someone has signs of a severe allergic reaction, such as hives or difficulty breathing, call triple zero (000). See your doctor about anything else that worries you; healthdirect explains vaccine side effects and when to get urgent help.
Common questions
Is the flu vaccine free at the pharmacy?
It is free for the NIP groups listed above; everyone else pays for the vaccine, so check the cost with the pharmacist before the injection. Our FAQs answer other questions, and the health services page lists everything else in store.
Can my child have a flu vaccine at the pharmacy?
Yes, from 2 years of age. Children under 9 with a medical risk condition who are having their first ever flu vaccine need two doses, at least four weeks apart.
Can I have the flu vaccine if I have an egg allergy?
Yes. The egg-based vaccines contain only minute traces of egg protein and are safe even after a past anaphylaxis to egg. The exception is anaphylaxis after a previous flu vaccine or one of its ingredients, so tell the pharmacist about any reaction.