Free influenza vaccine program May, June and July 2025

Registration

Invitations to register for the community pharmacy reimbursement program are now closed.

The Department of Health will coordinate reimbursement payments to participating community pharmacies.

Claiming

From 1 May to 30 June 2025, community pharmacies in the program can claim $19.60 per state- funded influenza vaccine administered to:

• eligible people under the primary school influenza immunisation program (i.e. children aged 5 to 11 years not otherwise eligible for NIP-funded influenza vaccines)
• eligible people under the Free Influenza Vaccine Program 2025 (i.e. people aged 12 to 64 years not otherwise eligible for NIP-funded influenza vaccines).

From 1 July to 31 July 2025, community pharmacies in the program can claim $20.05 per state- funded influenza vaccine administered to:

• eligible people under the primary-school influenza immunisation program (i.e. children aged 5 to 11 years not otherwise eligible for NIP-funded influenza vaccines)
• eligible people under the Free Influenza Vaccine Program 2025 (i.e. people aged 12 to 64 years not otherwise eligible for NIP-funded influenza vaccines).

In addition to an administration fee of $20.05, reimbursement for privately purchased vaccines that are administered between 1 July – 31 July 2025 to persons aged 12 to 64 can be claimed, if the following evidence is submitted as part of the reimbursement claim:

• influenza vaccine brand
• batch number
• unit cost of the vaccine
• number of doses administered in July 2025.

Access to reimbursement for community pharmacists

To access reimbursement payments, participating community pharmacies must:

• Register for the program before 5.00 pm on Friday 2 May 2025. Registration will enrol the pharmacy for May, June and July reimbursements
• Have a valid Onelink account to order vaccines
• Report via the REDCap form, which will be emailed to the registered email address on the day the reimbursement claims open, and upload a reimbursement invoice for the number of influenza vaccines administered to eligible people in each month, and the number of vaccines purchased with the evidence listed above:
• Before 5.00 pm Tuesday 10 June 2025 for those administered to eligible people in May 2025
• Before 5.00 pm Tuesday 8 July 2025 for those administered to eligible people in June 2025
• Before 5.00 pm Tuesday 12 August 2025 for those administered to eligible people in July 2025.

Reimbursement claims will be cross-referenced against Onelink vaccine order records and private vaccine purchase invoices. Claims for more than the number of vaccines ordered will delay processing and may result in non-payment.

Note: records of influenza vaccines administered during the months of May to July must be maintained by the provider in the event of a WA Department of Health audit. Records must include the age of recipient, vaccine brand, batch number, date of vaccine administration, and AIR provider number.

Any reimbursement claims are subject to review, and the Department reserves the right to audit and reject any claims for reimbursement. The Department may audit participating pharmacies to reconcile amounts paid with the individual pharmacy administration records or any other means deemed appropriate and lawful.

Community pharmacies participation conduct

Community pharmacies cannot:

• charge fees or additional co-payments for any vaccination administered under this program
• submit a claim for reimbursement from the department if they have already claimed reimbursement for the influenza vaccination via another program, such as the private health fund vouchers or corporate flu vaccination services
• claim reimbursement of the administration fee for people eligible for NIP-funded influenza vaccines. These reimbursements must be managed through the National Immunisation Program Vaccinations in Pharmacy (NIPVIP) Program (external site)
• claim reimbursement for influenza vaccines that have been transferred from another pharmacy.

Registration

Invitations to register for the corporate vaccination service (CVS) providers reimbursement program are now closed.

The Department of Health will coordinate reimbursement payments to participating CVS providers.

Claiming

From 1 May to 30 June 2025, corporate vaccination service providers in the program can claim $19.60 per state-funded influenza vaccine administered to:

• eligible people under the Free Influenza Vaccine Program (i.e. people aged 12 to 64 years not otherwise eligible for NIP-funded influenza vaccines).

From 1 July to 31 July 2025, corporate vaccination service providers in the program can claim $20.05 per privately-purchased influenza vaccine administered to:

• eligible people under the Free Influenza Vaccine Program (i.e. people aged 12 to 64 years not otherwise eligible for NIP-funded influenza vaccines).

In addition to an administration fee of $20.05, reimbursement for privately purchased vaccines that are administered between 1 July – 31 July 2025 to persons aged 12 to 64 can be claimed, if the following evidence is submitted as part of the reimbursement claim:

• influenza vaccine brand
• batch number
• unit cost of the vaccine
• number of doses administered in July 2025.

Access to reimbursement

To access reimbursement payments, participating corporate vaccination service providers must:

• Register for the program before 5.00 pm on Friday 2 May 2025. Registration will enrol the CVS providers for May, June and July reimbursements
• Have a valid Onelink account to order vaccines
• Report via the REDCap form, which will be emailed to the registered email address on the day the reimbursement claims open, and upload a reimbursement invoice for, the number of influenza vaccines administered to eligible people in each month:
• Before 5.00 pm Tuesday 10 June 2025 for those administered to eligible people in May 2025
• Before 5.00 pm Tuesday 8 July 2025 for those administered to eligible people in June 2025
• Before 5.00 pm Tuesday 12 August 2025 for those administered to eligible people in July 2025.

Reimbursement claims will be cross-referenced against Onelink vaccine order records. Claims for more than the number of vaccines ordered will delay processing and may result in non-payment.

Note: records of influenza vaccines administered during the months of May, June and July must be maintained by the provider in the event of a WA Department of Health audit. Records must include the age of recipient, vaccine brand, batch number, date of vaccine administration, and AIR provider number.

All reimbursement claims are subject to review, and the WA Department of Health reserves the right to audit and reject any claims for reimbursement. The Department may audit any participating CVS provider to reconcile amounts paid with the individual CVS provider administration records or any other means deemed appropriate and lawful.

Corporate vaccination service providers participation conduct

Corporate vaccination service providers cannot:

• charge fees or additional co-payments for any vaccination administered under this program
• claim reimbursement of the administration fee for people eligible for NIP-funded influenza vaccines.

Registration

The WA Department of Health is offering a reimbursement for privately-purchased vaccines that are administered between 1 July to 31 July 2025 by general practitioners to people aged 12 to 64 years who are otherwise not eligible for a NIP-funded influenza vaccine.

Registrations will open soon and must be submitted by 5.00pm on Thursday 7 August 2025.

The Department of Health will coordinate reimbursement payments to participating general practices.

Claiming

General practitioners participating in the program can claim for reimbursement of any privately-purchased influenza vaccines administered between 1 July to 31 July 2025 to:

• eligible people under the Free Influenza Vaccine Program 2025 (i.e. people aged 12 to 64 years not otherwise eligible for NIP-funded influenza vaccines).

Providers will need to submit an invoice or equivalent evidence detailing the purchase of private influenza vaccines, including:

• influenza vaccine brand
• batch number
• unit cost of the vaccine
• number of privately-purchased influenza vaccines administered in July 2025

For general practitioners, the Program does not provide reimbursement for administration of any influenza vaccines, nor for influenza vaccines that have been transferred from another immunisation provider.

For any queries, please email influenza.reimbursement@health.wa.gov.au

Access to reimbursement for general practitioners

To access reimbursement payments, participating providers must:

• Register for the program before 5.00 pm on Thursday 7 August 2025. Providers with an existing Onelink account will be emailed a registration link. Providers without a Onelink account will need to email influenza.reimbursement@health.wa.gov.au to request a registration link to complete the registration before the deadline.
• Report via the REDCap form, which will be emailed to the registered email address on the day the reimbursement claims open, and upload a reimbursement invoice for the number of influenza vaccines administered to eligible people in July along with the evidence above:
• Before 5.00 pm Tuesday 19 August 2025 for those administered to eligible people in July 2025.

Note: records of influenza vaccines administered during July must be maintained by the provider in the event of a WA Department of Health audit. Records must include the age of recipient, vaccine brand, batch number, date of vaccine administration, and AIR provider number.

Who can access a free influenza vaccination during May to July 2025?

Eligible people under the Free Influenza Vaccine Program from 1 May to 31 July 2025 are:

• children aged 5 to 11 years not otherwise eligible for NIP funded influenza vaccines (primary school influenza immunisation program)
• people aged 12 to 64 years, not otherwise eligible for NIP funded influenza vaccines.

Can NIP-funded influenza vaccines be used for people eligible for the Free Influenza Vaccine Program?

No. NIP-funded influenza vaccines can only be used for NIP eligible people, in accordance with the current WA Immunisation Schedule. Influenza stock ordered through the Free Influenza Vaccine Program (i.e. FluQuadri), or privately-purchased stock (for July 2025 only) should be used for those not eligible for NIP funded influenza vaccines.

Do people have to be a WA resident to qualify for a free vaccine in May to July 2025?

No. This program is available to everyone in WA including interstate or international visitors.

Are non-Medicare card holders able to access a free vaccine in May to July 2025?

Yes. Everyone aged 5 to 64 years can access a free influenza vaccine, including those who do not have a Medicare card.

My service provides immunisation services but is not a community pharmacy or corporate vaccination service. Can I seek reimbursement for administering influenza vaccines in May to July 2025?

No. The reimbursement program is only available to community pharmacies and corporate vaccination service providers registered for the program.

Can my service claim reimbursement for privately-purchased influenza vaccines?

Immunisation providers may claim reimbursement for privately-purchased influenza vaccines that are administered between 1 July to 31 July 2025.

Can I charge the patient a fee for the influenza vaccination service?

No. Providers participating in the program are not permitted to charge the patient any fees under this program.

Do all pharmacies have to participate in the program?

No. Participation in the program is optional. PBS and non-PBS pharmacies can participate. Pharmacies wishing to participate and receive reimbursement for vaccine administration must register for the reimbursement program.

Are people aged 65 years and over eligible to receive free influenza vaccine under this program?

No. Patients aged 65 years and over are eligible for a Fluad Quad vaccine under the NIP and reimbursement for administration costs can be claimed through the National Immunisation Program Vaccinations in Pharmacy (external site) (NIPVIP) program for pharmacies, or through Medicare for GPs.

I have accidentally reported my reimbursement claim incorrectly, can this be adjusted?

Yes. Please email the correct details to influenza.reimbursement@health.wa.gov.au and we will make the necessary adjustments to your form.

Will the program be audited?

The Department retains the right to audit participating immunisation providers and order them to repay or take other action deemed appropriate.