7th April 2026
Flu season is no longer as predictable as it once was. Infectious disease experts Meru Sheel from the University of Sydney and Allen Cheng from Monash University, say vaccination remains the best protection against influenza. Their analysis was published in The Conversation in 2026, as cases began rising earlier than expected across Australia.
This year, flu activity started sooner than usual, with more than 25,000 cases reported between January and March. The true number is likely higher. Influenza spreads through droplets when people cough, sneeze, or talk. Common symptoms include fever, fatigue, body aches, and a sore throat.
For many people, the illness passes without treatment, while for others, it can become serious. Older adults, young children, pregnant women, and those with existing health conditions face higher risks. In Australia, the flu causes around 3,500 deaths and 18,000 hospitalisations each year.
Many people ask when they should get vaccinated. In most parts of Australia, flu season runs from May to October. Cases usually peak in winter. In a perfect scenario, people would receive vaccinations two weeks before cases begin to rise. In reality, that timing is hard to predict.
Sheel and Cheng recommend a simpler approach. Get vaccinated when it becomes available and suits your schedule. For most people, this means April or May. This timing helps protect you during the peak months and lowers the chance of catching the flu early in the season.
The vaccine does not last forever. Protection is strongest in the first three to four months after the shot. It may begin to decline after six months, which is why early autumn is a practical window for most people.
This year’s vaccine protects from current strains of the virus. It includes protection against two influenza A strains and one influenza B strain. One of these targets a strain linked to the recent rise in cases. Experts say this variant spreads more easily, but it does not appear to cause more severe illness.
In Australia, vaccinated people were 53 per cent less likely to need hospital care or visit a GP for flu symptoms. Data from the United Kingdom shows strong protection in children and teenagers against cases that required medical attention.
Vaccination also helps protect others. Studies show it can reduce the spread of flu within households and the wider community.
Some groups need to plan more carefully. Travellers heading to the northern hemisphere during its winter should get vaccinated two to four weeks before they leave. GPs advise pregnant women to have the vaccine from 28 weeks. Young children receiving it for the first time need two doses, given four weeks apart.
The advice from Sheel and Cheng is clear. Timing helps, but it should not delay action. Getting vaccinated is the most important step in reducing the risk of serious illness and slowing the spread of influenza.
