ATAGI statement on the administration of seasonal influenza vaccines in 2025

Annual vaccination is the most important measure to prevent influenza and its complications. It is recommended for all people ≥6 months of age. 

• The importance of influenza vaccination should be emphasised. Healthcare provider recommendation is the strongest predictor of a person's decision to vaccinate.
• Standard influenza vaccination is recommended for all people aged 6 months to 64 years, using age group-appropriate vaccines listed in Table 1.  Influenza vaccines are  available on the NIP for certain age groups, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, pregnant women, and people with certain medical conditions (Table 3).
• For adults aged ≥65 years, both the adjuvanted (Fluad® Quad) and high dose influenza vaccine (Fluzone High Dose Quadrivalent) are equally preferentially recommended over standard influenza vaccine.
• If a person had a 2024 formulation of influenza vaccine in late 2024 or early 2025, they are still recommended to receive a 2025 formulation of influenza vaccine when it becomes available (likely from March 2025).
• Acknowledging recent international activity of avian influenza, ATAGI notes that seasonal influenza vaccine is not protective against avian influenza virus. However, people in occupational risk groups, e.g. poultry workers, are recommended to receive seasonal influenza vaccination to minimise the potential of virus reassortment in the case of dual infection with seasonal and avian influenza viruses.
• The WHO and the Australian Influenza Vaccine Committee (AIVC) have recommended that the inclusion of the B Yamagata lineage virus in vaccines is no longer warranted. ATAGI notes that time to transition from quadrivalent influenza vaccine (QIV) to trivalent influenza vaccine (TIV) formulations will vary for some vaccine brands. Some QIV brands have been discontinued as a part of this transition process in 2025. All influenza vaccines available in Australia in 2025 will still be QIVs (which continue to include a B Yamagata strain). Despite this, ATAGI makes no preferential recommendation between QIVs and TIVs as both formulations contain the recommended strains for 2025 and exhibit no differences in safety or efficacy.