Immunisation Foundation of Australia

25/08/2026

Highly Commended in the 2026 Aabi Award: Dr Radhika Sheorey.

Radhika is a GP, a practice principal and a mother of three. For several years she has given her own time to run influenza clinics at her local primary school and childcare centre, free for the children, their families and the staff, with only the vaccine cost for anyone not covered by the National Immunisation Program.

She is a parent in that community herself. Her clinics have grown every year, which tells you what that community thinks of her.

The Aabi Award is named for Aabi Ahuja, who died of influenza. Her family created it to recognise people who protect other families from flu, and helped choose this year’s recipients.

The three Aabi Award Influenza Champions are announced tomorrow.

25/08/2026

Highly Commended in the 2026 Aabi Award: Sarah Jean Doran.

Sarah runs standalone influenza clinics in parts of Tasmania where getting vaccinated is harder than it should be. If cost is a barrier, she works around it, and as the season closes she runs a fee-free walk-in clinic so that nobody misses out.

A vaccine only protects you if you can actually get to it. Sarah does what she can about that.

The Aabi Award is named for Aabi Ahuja, who died of influenza. Her family created it to recognise people who protect other families from flu, and helped choose this year’s recipients.

The three Aabi Award Influenza Champions are announced tomorrow.

25/08/2026

Behind each post is a family who lived through the unthinkable.

These are real babies whose lives were shaken by diseases we know how to prevent.

Immunise For Two shares their stories so others never have to write their own.

Check the link in comments for more.

25/08/2026

Highly Commended in the 2026 Aabi Award: Louise Boyd.

Louise is an immunisation nurse with the City of Playford in South Australia. She found funding for a Buzzy and brought in distraction toys, books and a bubble machine, so the vaccination room is somewhere children are happy to walk into.

She has also spoken publicly for childhood immunisation well outside her working hours, including at the national announcement of the RSV vaccine.

A child who is not scared of the room is a child who comes back next year.

The Aabi Award is named for Aabi Ahuja, who died of influenza. Her family created it to recognise people who protect other families from flu, and helped choose this year’s recipients.

The three Aabi Award Influenza Champions are announced tomorrow.

24/08/2026

Highly Commended in the 2026 Aabi Award: the Immunisation Program team at the Communicable Disease Control Directorate, WA Health.

Western Australia has the broadest state-funded nasal influenza vaccine program in the country. Getting there took evidence, a business case, rounds of consultation, vaccine distribution across an enormous state, and provider education, none of which the public ever sees.

Every West Australian child who had access to a needle-free flu vaccine this year had it because of this team.

The Aabi Award is named for Aabi Ahuja, who died of influenza. Her family created it to recognise people who protect other families from flu, and helped choose this year’s recipients.

The three Aabi Award Influenza Champions are announced on Wednesday.

24/08/2026

This week we announce the first ever Aabi Award.

The award is named for Aabi Ahuja, who died of influenza. Her family created it so the people who quietly work to protect other families from flu get noticed, and they helped choose this year’s recipients from nominations across five states.

Today and tomorrow we are sharing the five Highly Commended. The three Influenza Champions are announced on Wednesday, which is Aabi's birth date.

First, Anna Theophilos.

As founder of The Vaccination Hub and the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia’s National Vaccination Ambassador, Anna gives pharmacists across the country the resources and the confidence to deliver influenza vaccination, and to meet people’s questions with evidence and care.

For a lot of families, the pharmacy is the easiest door to walk through. Anna’s work is part of why that door is open.

24/08/2026

Have you spotted Beat the Bugs at your local pharmacy?

Thanks to funding from the Stan Perron Charitable Foundation and our partners at TerryWhite Chemmart, free copies of our children's book are on shelves at 30 pharmacies across WA, from Perth suburbs to regional towns.

Ask in store for your free copy, one per family, while stocks last.

Not near a participating store? Order online at ifa.org.au/beat-the-bugs

22/08/2026

Every parent in this series held a real baby in their arms as their world changed.

Vaccine‑preventable diseases didn’t feel rare to them.

Immunise For Two honours their courage and urges us to protect every Aussie child.

Check the link in comments for more.

At fifteen days old, Amie was a healthy baby. The next day she was sleepy and not feeding well. Overnight she developed a runny nose. Amie’s Mum was concerned and took her to the GP who recommended an X-Ray and check-up at Prince of Wales Hospital, in Sydney. To her parent’s surprise, Amie was d...

22/08/2026

It's Book Week! And we have a free book for your family.

Beat the Bugs is our picture book for kids aged 3 to 8. It answers the questions little ones always ask: What are germs? Why do we get needles? How does my body fight back?

Written in rhyme, with illustrations kids genuinely love (the superhero syringe is a favourite).

One free book per family, while stocks last. Order yours at ifa.org.au/beat-the-bugs

Does your child have questions about immunisation? The Immunisation Foundation of Australia is committed to distributing as many copies of our fun "Beat the Bugs" books as we can, to help kids have a better understanding of how vaccines work (and why they are so important!).

21/08/2026

As part of our 'Medical Mums: Immunise For Two' campaign, we're sharing powerful stories from health-based professional mums who are strong advocates for pregnancy vaccination.

Drawing on their expertise and personal experiences, they highlight the peace of mind and vital protection that pregnancy vaccination provides for babies from the very start.