Call for NT to bring in needle-free flu vaccine

Health officials in the Northern Territory are being urged to follow the lead of other areas in Australia and bring in needle-free flu vaccinations for young children from next year.
 
The West Australian Government was the most recent to confirm that it will have the FluMist intranasal vaccine for 2026, with 130,000 doses of available for free for young patients aged 2–11 years.
 
It follows South Australian, New South Wales and Queensland governments all announcing similar plans last month.
 
RACGP Northern Territory Chair Dr Sam Heard is looking for the NT Government to follow suit.
 
‘The Government must commit to rolling out free, intranasal flu vaccinations for young kids next year,’ he said.
 
‘I can’t think of a more sensible and necessary public health investment.
 
‘This is a cost-effective and necessary step to keep young children, who are among the most at risk from a severe flu infection including hospitalisation, as safe as possible.’
 
He said the vaccinations have been making a difference overseas for years, pointing to their successful introduction in Italy, the United Kingdom, Finland, and Spain.
 
‘Where they’ve been rolled out, these countries have seen substantial increases in vaccination coverage,’ he said.
 
‘We know these intranasal sprays work.
 
‘Many children are fearful of needles and two thirds of parents say the distress about vaccinating their child acts as a barrier. Removing all barriers to vaccination is so important.’
 
Australia has had a record number of flu cases this year, and while the NT is not at a historical high, its 4041 laboratory-confirmed influenza cases are notably more than the 3299 cases recorded in 2024.
 
Many more cases are likely to have gone unreported.
 
‘In the Territory, just 35.4% of children aged six months to five years, and only 34.9% of patients aged 65 years or older, are vaccinated against the flu,’ Dr Heard said.
 
‘The number one thing you can do to help keep yourself, your family members, and your community, as safe as possible is to get vaccinated.’
 
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