The NSW Government is introducing free nasal spray flu vaccines for children aged two to four in an effort to lift vaccination rates after the state recorded its worst flu season on record.
Under the NSW Nasal Spray Influenza Vaccination Program, children aged two, three and four will be able to receive the vaccine through GPs, Aboriginal Medical Services and community pharmacies across the state. The vaccine is given as one spray into each nostril and avoids the need for an injection.
The move comes after influenza cases surged across NSW in 2025. More than 186,000 flu cases were recorded across all age groups last year, the highest number on record for the state. Children under five were among the hardest hit, with more than 24,500 flu cases reported in that age group alone. There were also more than 4,600 emergency department presentations for influenza-like illness among children under five and more than 960 hospital admissions, both more than 40 per cent higher than the previous year.
Vaccination rates among young children remain below the NSW target. Around 24.4 per cent of children under five were vaccinated in 2025, well short of the 40 per cent target set under the NSW Immunisation Strategy 2024 to 2028.
Health Minister Ryan Park said the nasal spray option could help ease concerns for parents whose children are nervous about needles.
He said the vaccine offered a simpler and less stressful alternative for young children while giving them protection against a virus that can lead to serious illness.
The vaccine being used in the program is FluMist, which has been widely used in countries including the United Kingdom and the United States for more than a decade. It has been approved by the Therapeutic Goods Administration for use in Australia in children and adolescents aged two to 17. NSW Health says the nasal spray works just as well as the traditional injectable vaccine and does not cause influenza.
Member for Heathcote Maryanne Stuart said the needle-free option could help keep more children out of hospital after last year’s rise in emergency department visits.
Executive Director of Health Protection NSW Dr Kerryn Coleman said the vaccine was quick, painless and available through local healthcare providers. She also encouraged the wider community to book their annual flu vaccination early before case numbers begin to rise again.
The influenza vaccine is recommended every year for everyone aged six months and over. Under the National Immunisation Program, free flu vaccines are available for children under five, pregnant women, Aboriginal people aged six months and over, people aged 65 and over, and those with serious health conditions.
The NSW program is being treated as a pilot year and vaccine supplies will be available from April to June, or until stock runs out. NSW Health will later assess whether the needle-free option helped improve vaccination rates among young children.
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