South Australia is set to make flu season a little less daunting for children, with the SA Government introducing a needle-free influenza vaccine for kids aged two to five. The rollout, scheduled ahead of the next year’s flu season, will be free of charge and is expected to boost vaccination rates among the state’s youngest residents.
The new vaccine, known as FluMist, is delivered via a quick nasal spray instead of a needle, offering the same protection as the traditional flu shot. Officials are confident the no-needle option will ease the common fear of injections and encourage more parents to vaccinate their children.
South Australia already leads the nation in flu vaccination rates among mainland states, but uptake for under-fives still lingers around 25 per cent. Health authorities are aiming to shift that number upwards, noting that influenza has already hospitalised 178 children aged two to four in SA this year alone, and 1806 flu cases were reported in the 2–4 age group this year. Complications can include ear infections, pneumonia, and croup – illnesses that can quickly become life-threatening.
FluMist is already used overseas in countries like the UK and USA, where it has been credited with reducing flu cases and hospitalisations among young children. NSW and Queensland have also announced similar rollouts.
Health Minister Chris Picton called the vaccine a “game-changer” for families.
“Many kids are scared of needles and this new nasal spray flu vaccine takes away that fear. Providing a needle-free option will hopefully encourage more parents to get their kids vaccinated and protected from the flu. It’s been successful overseas and we hope it’ll lift vaccination rates in the under-five age group here for next flu season and beyond.”
Chief Public Health Officer Professor Nicola Spurrier agreed, adding that as a paediatrician, she has seen firsthand the anxiety children face with needles.
“Given the flu vaccine needs to be administered every year, this new needle-free vaccine is a wonderful option, and I hope will encourage families to have their children vaccinated,” she said.
Children who have never received a flu vaccine will require two doses of FluMist, four weeks apart. For some children with underlying health conditions, the traditional injectable vaccine will still be recommended, with health practitioners making case-by-case decisions.
The free vaccine for children under five is part of the National Immunisation Program, which also provides flu shots to other high-risk groups, including older Australians, pregnant women, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, and those with underlying health conditions. South Australia also extends free flu vaccines to individuals experiencing homelessness.
By making vaccination quicker, easier, and needle-free, the government hopes to protect more young children and reduce the burden of flu across the state.
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