It’s time to book in both your 2026 flu and COVID-19 booster vaccinations for the coming winter season. These seasonal vaccinations are essential not just for your own health but also for the well-being of your family, friends and loved ones.
The 2026 flu vaccination is available now!
Bookings are OPEN at all our pharmacy locations: Bellarine Village Newcomb | Belmont | Geelong West | Grovedale | Lara | North Geelong
Yes we do! You can have a COVID-19 booster at the same time as your winter 2026 flu shot, just ask your pharmacist immuniser or book a ‘Flu and COVID-19 vaccination’ appointment online
Our Pharmacist Immunisers can vaccinate all people aged 5 years and over in store at your local Community Care Chemist.
To avoid wait times, bookings are recommended for flu vaccinations.
Bookings can be made online with your preferred Community Care Chemist location via our bookings page. You can also make a booking when you are next in store or over the phone.
The flu vaccine is free for eligible people under the National Immunisation Program (NIP).
Eligible groups serviced under NIP by Community Care Chemist include;
If you live with one of the above medical conditions, we recommend checking with your pharmacist immuniser in-store to see if you may be eligible for a free flu vaccination.
Winter 2026 flu shot pricing for members $25.95, non-members $27.72
Yes! There are no out of pocket expenses* for GMHBA members receiving their flu vaccination at Community Care Chemist.
*GMHBA members must hold an active policy and present their Medicare and GMHBA member cards on the day of vaccination. Offer valid until 31 July 2026.
Your flu vaccination at Community Care Chemist is administered by a Pharmacist Immuniser, a registered pharmacist who has completed a recognised immuniser program of study.
For more information about Pharmacist Immunisers visit the Victorian Department of Health.
New for Winter 2026: The nasal spray flu vaccine (you might have seen it in the news referred to as: FluMist) provides flu protection, without the injection!
Community Care Chemist will have nasal spray flu vaccinations available from April for children aged 5-17 years old. The nasal spray flu vaccine will be administered in-store by our trained pharmacist immunisers.
The nasal spray flu vaccine, provides up to 12 months protection from influenza.
No prescription is required for nasal spray flu vaccinations.
Please note nasal spray flu vaccinations are not part of the National Immunisation Program or funded by the Victorian government at this time.
The private cost for nasal spray flu vaccination in-store at Community Care Chemist will be:
Yearly vaccination before the onset of each flu season is recommended.
Protection is generally expected to last throughout the year, the highest level of protection occurs in the first 3 to 4 months after vaccination.
In Victoria, flu season generally occurs from June to September. So, that’s why it’s recommended to get your flu shot from April onwards.
If you had last season’s influenza vaccine in late 2025 or early 2026, you should still get the new season’s vaccine when it becomes available.
It is important to note that, it is never too late to vaccinate as influenza can circulate in the community all year round.
In most cases, yes. If you’re travelling overseas this winter, we recommend a pre-travel consultation with one of our trained pharmacists so you can receive tailored advice including:
Some Geelong workplaces partner with Community Care Chemist to provide flu vaccination to for their employees, refer to instructions from your employer on how to claim your employer subsidised flu vaccine instore.
Looking to join our Corporate Vaccination Program? We’d love to work with you!
On-site, visiting Pharmacist Immuniser sessions or in-store employee flu vaccination options are available.
Yes. The flu vaccine can be co-administered (that is, given on the same day, one after the other) with other vaccines. This includes COVID-19, whooping cough, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and pneumococcal vaccines.
Speak to your local pharmacy to discuss your options for co-administered vaccines.
Flu viruses change every year because the flu virus has a unique ability to change its surface structure. This means that even if you had the flu or an immunisation one year, your body’s immune system might not be able to fight the changed version of the virus that will be circulating the following year.
Each year, a new vaccine is developed and is available for those who wish to be immunised. The seasonal flu vaccine generally includes protection against up to four strains of influenza viruses.
No, the flu vaccine cannot give you the flu because it does not contain live virus.
Some people may still contract the flu because the vaccine may not always protect against all strains of the influenza virus circulating in the community.
Yes, it is still possible to catch the flu, however vaccination prepares your immune system to greatly reduce the severity and length of the influenza virus.
Article content produced with thanks to Better Health Victoria, National Immunisation Program and The Department of Health and Aged Care.
