Immunisation Weekly Update:

Immunisation Weekly Update:

1. Japanese Encephalitis vaccination – expanded eligibility criteria
2. 2026 flu vaccine materials
3. Maternal flu and pertussis vaccination linked to lower risk of infant hospitalisations
4. Education

Japanese Encephalitis vaccination – expanded eligibility criteria

NSW Health has expanded the eligibility criteria for free Japanese Encephalitis (JE) virus vaccine:

• People are recommended to receive a free vaccine if they live or work in any of the 68 high-risk Local Government Areas (LGAs). This includes an additional 8 new LGAs.
• Until 1 June 2026, people travelling to those high-risk LGAs for outdoor recreation (such as camping, caravaning, boating, hunting, and fishing) are eligible and recommended to receive a free vaccine.

Please read the Clinician Alert for more details.

2026 flu vaccine materials

Ensure that you are familiar with all key information relating to the upcoming influenza season by reviewing key materials ahead of vaccine delivery.

Program advice for health professionals: Provides key details regarding 2026 influenza vaccinations, including:

• Vaccination timing
• Vaccine strains
• Guidance for different population groups
• Eligibility for National Immunisation Program (NIP) flu vaccines

ATAGI statement: Provides an overview of key points and updates for 2026, and highlights the vaccines registered and available for use in Australia, outlining changes to 2026 formulations and dosing. 

NCIRS Webinar: Influenza vaccination in 2026: a new era of protection

• The session was hosted by NCIRS Director Professor Kristine Macartney and covered recent trends in influenza burden and vaccine coverage, as well as important changes to this year’s seasonal influenza program.
• The webinar also addressed common questions about the intranasal live attenuated influenza vaccine, FluMist.

NCIRS Resources:

• Revised influenza FAQs incorporating questions about live-attenuated influenza vaccine (LAIV)
• New resource comparing the inactivated influenza vaccine with LAIV
• A new table summarising state and territory funding for the intranasal flu vaccine in 2026

Maternal flu and pertussis vaccination linked to lower risk of infant hospitalisations

New research published in JAMA Network Open adds to the growing body of evidence of influenza and tetanus-diphtheria-acellular pertussis (Tdap) vaccinations during pregnancy.

The study found that infants born to vaccinated mothers had a lower risk of hospital and emergency department visits for influenza or pertussis during their first 6 months of life.

Analysing health records from over 250,000 mother-infant pairs, the study estimated vaccine effectiveness of around 70% for maternal influenza vaccination and nearly 90% for maternal Tdap vaccination in reducing these outcomes

As Australia prepares for the 2026 influenza season, the findings reinforce maternal vaccination as a critical strategy to protect both pregnant women and newborns.

Source: NCIRS Weekly Jab newsletter 20 March 2026. Subscribe here: ncirs.org.au/user/register

Education