The 2026 Winter Strategy is designed to boost health system resilience and support the community to ensure Western Australians can access safe and appropriate care during the months with highest demand.
Last year was one of the toughest on record, with almost 1.2 million emergency department visits and more than 700,000 public hospital admissions.
Targeted immunisation initiatives supporting the prevention pillar of the strategy include:
- 2026 Free Influenza Vaccine Program
Free influenza vaccines for those aged 12 to 64 years who are not otherwise eligible for a free influenza vaccine through the National Immunisation Program. The program will commence on 1 May and conclude on 30 June 2026.
- 2026 WA Influenza Nasal Spray Vaccination Program
Children aged 2 to 11 years will be eligible for a free FluMist vaccine, an intranasal live-attenuated influenza vaccine. This program will commence in mid April and conclude on 31 July 2026.
- New RSV immunisation option to protect older Western Australians
Following the success of WA’s infant and maternal RSV immunisation program, for the first time, from mid-May the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccine will be available for free to older Western Australians aged 65 and over in residential aged care homes.
Find out more and register for the WA Primary Health Alliance Immunisation – Winter Wellness Webinar on Tuesday 14 April at 7pm.