Free flu vaccines for over-65s could be in GP fridges as early as next week, with health officials urging older Australians to vaccinate as soon as possible.

Stock will arrive earlier than anticipated, WA health officials confirm, with the new adjuvanted quadrivalent influenza vaccine for the elderly set to arrive in the first week of April, rather than midway through the month.

And in NSW, there are moves to vaccinate nursing home residents as early as next week, a spokesperson for NSW Health told Australian Doctor.

Perth GP Dr Alan Leeb, director of the SmartVax surveillance platform, said that while he’s still waiting for NIP stock, anecdotally other practices are taking delivery already.