Needle-less flu vaccination to tackle low uptake in young children

GPs will be able to offer needle-free flu vaccines to young children in New South Wales (NSW) and Queensland (QLD) ahead of the 2026 winter flu season, prompting the RACGP to call on other states to follow suit.
 
The NSW and QLD Governments both announced plans this week to introduce an intranasal influenza vaccine (sold as FluMist) to be administered by GPs to young patients aged between two and under-five years.
 
It provides the same protection as the currently available vaccine for this age group, without the need for painful jabs, prompting hopes the new option will help families overcome vaccine hesitancy due to needle anxiety.
 
In Queensland, FluMist will be introduced in 2026 as a trial under the Queensland Nasal Spray Flu Immunisation Program, available to all children aged two, three and four years.
 
The State Government confirms it is ‘acting quickly to secure vaccine supply’ in time for the roll-out.
 
QLD Chief Health Officer Dr Catherine McDougall said the extensive use of FluMist overseas has shown it is effective in ‘significantly improving paediatric influenza vaccine uptake’.
 
‘In the first year of the UK’s FluMist program, vaccination rates reached approximately 40% in the target age cohort,’ she said.
  
‘Currently, influenza vaccination coverage among children under five years of age is under 20% in Queensland.
 
‘Parental and child anxiety about needles is a major barrier.’
 
In NSW, needle-free flu vaccination will begin as a new program. NSW Minister for Health Ryan Park said it is hoped a needle-free alternative will support parent decision-making and lead to reduced pressure on emergency departments.
 
The RACGP has welcomed the initiative, describing it as ‘game-changing relief for parents’ and calling on other states to follow suite.
 
RACGP NSW&ACT Chair Dr Rebekah Hoffman said ‘needle-free vaccine access, at no cost to families, will be as easy as it is lifesaving’.
 
‘We’ve seen falling immunisation rates among children under five, from more than 44% in 2020 to under 26% by the end of August this year. These kids are among the most at risk from a severe flu infection, so we need to boost immunity,’ she said.
 
‘No-cost needle-free vaccines is a game-changing policy from the NSW Government. Two thirds of parents say the distress about vaccinating their child is a barrier.
 
‘As GPs, we know that’s a barrier to achieving the immunity our young patients need, and this Minns Government initiative breaks that barrier.’
 
RACGP Queensland Chair Dr Cathryn Hester also welcomed the initiative from the Queensland Government as ‘a major step forward in public health’.
 
‘It’ll be a revolution for Queensland families. This means no-tears protection from severe flu, at no cost,’ Dr Hester said.
 
‘Vaccination is the best way to stop the flu from spreading in the community. The more people, especially the young, who can receive vaccination, the more we can prevent serious illness or hospitalisation.
 
‘Funding access to this new vaccine will help relieve the stress many parents feel when it comes to giving small children an injection.’
 
Dr Hester also highlighted the broader impact of increased flu vaccination coverage.
 
‘Stopping the spread of these viruses and boosting vaccination rates, including for the flu, relieves pressure on our entire healthcare system, including our hospitals,’ she said.
 
The past two years have been among the worst on record for flu cases.
 
According to the Federal Government’s National Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System, there have been 365,494 notifications of laboratory confirmed influenza reported this year as of 17 September 2025.
 
This compares a nationwide total of 365,590 for the entire year of 2024.
 
‘With new cases still evident, it is almost certain Australia will have more flu cases than previous years, potentially making 2025 a new record year for the number of lab-confirmed flu cases,’ Dr Hester said.
 
It is likely the needle-free flu protection will also become available to other age groups as private patients.
 
The Queensland Government confirmed FluMist will also be available to private patients aged up to 17, whereas NSW officials said they expected the vaccine will be available in the private market for other age groups ‘depending on regulatory approval’.
 
While the needle-free option will be available via GPs, Pharmaceutical Society of Australia National President Associate Professor Fei Sim says ‘pharmacists are ready to deliver these vaccines in every community’ with government support.
 
‘We note that FluMist is currently being considered by the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory
Committee for the National Immunisation Program,’ she said.
 
‘Federal funding will be critical for national consistency – but until then, states and territories must step up to protect children against this vaccine-preventable disease.’
 
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