The NSW Government has expanded access to its free nasal spray flu vaccine program, making it available to all children and teenagers aged between two and 17 as health authorities prepare for another challenging winter season.
The needle free vaccine will be offered for a limited time through participating GPs, Aboriginal Medical Services and community pharmacies across the state, with the government hoping the broader rollout will lift vaccination rates among young people.
The move follows what NSW Health describes as the worst flu season on record in 2025, when the state logged more than 186,000 influenza notifications. That figure was almost 16 per cent higher than the previous year and nearly 80 per cent above 2023 levels.
Health Minister Ryan Park said the expanded program aimed to make flu vaccinations less stressful for families, particularly for children anxious about injections.
“The thought of having a needle can be quite overwhelming for children of all ages so to be able to offer this pain free option to more children and young people is great news and important for increasing vaccination rates,” he said.
Vaccination coverage among children remains relatively low despite repeated public health campaigns. Fewer than a quarter of children aged six months to under five were vaccinated against influenza in NSW during 2025, while uptake among older children and teenagers was even lower.
NSW Health figures show around 15 per cent of children aged two to under five had received a flu vaccine by mid May this year, up from about 10 per cent at the same time in 2025. Of those vaccinated so far in 2026, almost 70 per cent received the nasal spray version.
Health authorities say the vaccine offers another option for families who may have delayed vaccination because of concerns about needles, though they continue to stress that all approved flu vaccines provide protection against serious illness.
NSW Chief Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant said influenza activity had remained relatively low so far this year but was expected to increase during winter.
“The nasal flu vaccine is safe and effective in providing protection against influenza. It is also a really quick and easy process,” she said.
Doctors and pharmacists have backed the expanded rollout, saying convenience and accessibility could help improve vaccination rates among school aged children.
Royal Australian College of GPs NSW and ACT chair Dr Rebekah Hoffman described the program as timely ahead of winter sports and the HSC exam period, when illness can disrupt schooling and family routines.
She also noted that older children often continue to experience anxiety around injections well into adolescence.
The Pharmacy Guild of Australia’s NSW branch president Mario Barone said community pharmacies had already seen strong interest from parents seeking needle free vaccinations for their children.
“Parents can now walk into most pharmacies and get their children aged between 2 to 17 a free, no needle vaccination,” he said.
While the nasal spray vaccine is available free for eligible children and teenagers, authorities continue to encourage vaccination across all age groups, particularly for people at higher risk of complications including young children, older people, pregnant women, Aboriginal communities and those with underlying health conditions.
Public health experts have long argued that increasing vaccination rates among school aged children can also help reduce the spread of influenza within households and the wider community.
Alongside the vaccine rollout, NSW Health is again urging people to stay home when unwell, practise good hygiene and consider wearing masks in crowded indoor settings during the peak winter period.
The government has also encouraged people with mild symptoms to use services such as Healthdirect and urgent care centres instead of emergency departments, which regularly face heavy demand during flu season.
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