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World Asthma Day is on 5 May 2026. The National Asthma Council Australia (NAC) will be joining the Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) theme of ‘Access to anti-inflammatory inhalers for everyone with asthma – still an urgent need’ to continue to promote the key messages of the newly updated Australian Asthma Handbook.
Asthma is a chronic inflammatory lung condition. It is one of the most common chronic non-communicable diseases that affects over 260 million people and is responsible for over 450,000 deaths each year worldwide. Most of these deaths are preventable. In Australia asthma affects one in 9 or 2.8 million people.
The revised NAC Australian Asthma Handbook now recommends anti-inflammatory reliever (AIR) only therapy and maintenance-and-reliever therapy (MART) for adults and adolescents (aged over 12). Inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) are now indicated for all adults and adolescents with asthma.
Download the resource kit to promote World Asthma Day.
World Asthma Day a good reminder for the annual flu vaccination
World Asthma Day is a good reminder for the 2.8 million Australians with asthma to get their annual flu vaccination.
The NAC recommends that people with asthma get a flu shot to provide the best possible protection before the peak winter season from June to September.
It is also a good time to be proactive and schedule an asthma check-up at the doctor to review your asthma action plan.
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