Flu vaccine 2026
The flu vaccine 2026 is available now for Australian workplaces — book your on-site flu shot clinic before the season starts. Corporate Care runs trivalent flu vaccinations for your employees, on your sites, across Australia.
Request a QuoteThe flu vaccine 2026 is available across Australia now, ahead of the flu season that typically builds from June. For 2026 it is a trivalent vaccine — two influenza A strains plus the B/Victoria lineage — after the B/Yamagata component was dropped, so a workplace flu program this year protects your employees against all three strains the 2026 vaccine is formulated to cover.
Flu Vaccine Strains for 2026
2026 Flu Season Preparations: Australia Returns to Trivalent Vaccines
As Australia prepares for the 2026 influenza season, the country is now using Trivalent Influenza Vaccines (TIV). After a decade of quadrivalent formulations, every seasonal flu vaccine available in Australia is once again trivalent — the format used before quadrivalent vaccines were introduced in 2016.
The Return to Trivalent Vaccines
From the 2026 flu season, every seasonal influenza vaccine available in Australia is trivalent (TIV) — a return to the format used before quadrivalent vaccines were introduced in 2016. This transition reflects the World Health Organisation’s global recommendations to phase out the B/Yamagata lineage component, which has not been detected worldwide since March 2020.
ATAGI guidance on the 2026 influenza vaccine
The transition is supported by comprehensive guidance from Australia’s leading health authorities. ATAGI’s official statement on the transition confirms that “TIV may be used exclusively by the 2026 influenza season.” This aligns with the Australian Influenza Vaccine Committee’s current recommendations that the B/Yamagata lineage component is “no longer warranted.”
2026 Vaccine Strain Announcement
The 2026 southern hemisphere strains were announced by the World Health Organisation in September 2025 and the Australian Influenza Vaccine Committee (AIVC) in October 2025. All 2026 vaccines are trivalent — two influenza A strains and the B/Victoria lineage.
Why the 2026 A(H3N2) strain changed: subclade K
“Subclade K” is an informal label for a subclade of influenza A(H3N2). It is the reason the A(H3N2) component of the 2026 vaccine differs from the 2025 formulation — the move to trivalent explains why B/Yamagata was dropped, but not why the A strain changed.
Australia’s 2025 season did not taper off through spring the way an influenza season usually does. Cases trended upwards late as subclade K emerged, stretching the season well past its normal peak, and the strain went on to circulate through the Northern Hemisphere winter.
The Northern Hemisphere’s vaccine that season was not well matched to it. According to the Doherty Institute, it still provided protection against severe outcomes despite the mismatch. An imperfect strain match reduces how well a vaccine prevents infection; it does not switch off the protection against severe illness.
For the Southern Hemisphere season, the vaccine composition was updated to sit more closely to the K variant. That is what the A(H3N2) component of the 2026 Australian trivalent vaccine reflects.
Looking ahead to the 2027 season
The 2027 vaccine strains are not yet known. Each year the World Health Organisation sets the composition for the Southern-Hemisphere season — Australia’s winter — in late September, with the Australian Influenza Vaccine Committee then advising on the Australian formulation. That means the 2027 strains will not be confirmed until around late September 2026. Corporate Care tracks these announcements every year and plans workplace programs around them, so your 2027 dates can be locked in well before vaccine supply arrives.
What This Means for our Corporate Flu Vaccination Programs
The 2026 trivalent format focuses on the three strains still circulating, dropping the B/Yamagata lineage that has not been detected since 2020. Our corporate flu programs deliver the 2026 trivalent vaccine in line with Australia’s official immunisation guidelines.
Expert Monitoring and Guidance
Aitor Aspiazu, Founder & Chief Nurse Consultant at Corporate Care and an AHPRA Registered Nurse with 15+ years of healthcare experience, continues to closely monitor developments in influenza vaccination. With his strong background and passion for flu vaccination, Aitor ensures our workplace vaccination programs remain at the forefront of best practice and aligned with current Australian Immunisation Handbook guidance.
Preparing for 2026
Our team monitors Therapeutic Goods Administration announcements through the year and updates programs for each new season’s recommendations.
Please contact our team today for more information about implementing a flu vaccination program in your workplace for the upcoming 2027 season.
Book your 2027 Workplace Vaccination Now!
The Importance of Flu Vaccination in the Workplace
In 2024, Australia recorded 365,589 laboratory-confirmed influenza notifications to the National Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System — the highest number on record. Influenza can wreak havoc in the workplace, leading to increased absenteeism and decreased productivity. The 2026 flu vaccine targets the strains expected to circulate this season, based on WHO and AIVC surveillance, making it an essential part of your workplace health strategy.
The Role of the WHO in Influenza Vaccine Recommendations
This helps ensure a good match between the vaccine strains and the circulating influenza viruses, which can positively affect Australian businesses and their employees.
A good match between the influenza vaccine and the circulating viruses means employees are less likely to fall ill and take time off work. This reduces absenteeism and increases productivity, benefiting the bottom line of businesses in Australia.
Furthermore, if employees are vaccinated, the spread of the flu virus within the workplace can be reduced, minimising the disruption and impact of flu outbreaks and leading to a healthy and efficient workforce.
The Importance of the Australian Influenza Vaccine Committee in Flu Vaccine Programs
The Australian Influenza Vaccine Committee (AIVC) plays a crucial role in the success of flu vaccine programs in Australia, including the 2026 Trivalent Flu Vaccine.
The committee, consisting of experts in virology, epidemiology, and public health, guides the use of flu vaccines, including the composition of seasonal flu vaccines, ensuring the Flu Vaccine for the upcoming flu season is a good match for the strains of influenza virus circulating in the population, providing maximum protection to individuals, including employees in the workplace.
A Word from the Experts
Aitor Aspiazu, Founder & Chief Nurse Consultant at Corporate Care and an AHPRA Registered Nurse with 15+ years of healthcare experience, had this to say:
“Australia’s switch to Trivalent Influenza Vaccines (TIV) from 2026 reflects what is actually circulating. The B/Yamagata lineage has not been detected globally since March 2020, so the WHO and the Australian Influenza Vaccine Committee dropped it from the seasonal mix. The result is a vaccine focused on the three strains that still pose a threat to Australian workplaces.“
Corporate Care, backed by Aitor’s extensive expertise and passion for flu vaccination, has over a decade of experience running workplace flu vaccinations. Our approach is grounded in evidence-based practices, staying aligned with guidance from the Australian Influenza Vaccine Committee and Australia’s official immunisation guidelines. We continuously monitor the latest scientific advancements to ensure our flu prevention programs remain as effective as possible for our corporate clients.
Ready to Take the Next Step?
Corporate Care is now taking bookings for 2027 onsite flu clinics and vouchers. On-site clinics and voucher programs give workplaces a straightforward way to deliver the 2026 trivalent vaccine to their teams.
Don’t wait until the 2027 flu season begins. Secure your workplace flu vaccinations today and provide your employees with the protection they deserve, using Australia’s updated vaccination approach.
For more insights on influenza, corporate health and wellbeing, AI, health tech, and how to improve productivity at work, please subscribe to Wellbeing Wired.
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