Program and training details are currently being finalised with the Australia Technical Advisory Group on Immuniation (ATAGI), National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance, Therepeutic Goods Administration (TGA) and Australian Immunisation Handbook (AIH).
On 16 September 2025, the NSW Government announced the NSW Intranasal Influenza vaccination Program for children aged 2 years to under 5 years. The program will commence in April next year ahead of the 2026 flu season.
NSW influenza vaccination rates for children aged 6 months to under 5 years remained low at 24.4% in 2025. In 2025 to 31 October, children aged 0 to 4 years made up 13 per cent of influenza notifications in NSW.
In 2025 to the end of August, there were over 3,000 presentations to emergency departments in NSW for influenza-like illness in children less than 5 years old, and over 600 hospital admissions. Previously healthy children can experience severe complications from influenza.
Live attenuated influenza vaccine, which is delivered intranasally, has been shown to be as effective against severe disease in children as the current available influenza vaccines. This needle-free alternative is expected to increase vaccination uptake in children and will be available through GPs, Aboriginal Medical Services and pharmacists for a short period of time for children aged 2 years to under 5 years. The vaccine will also be available in the private market for individuals aged 2 years to less than 18 years of age.
Following implementation, NSW Health will conduct an evaluation to assess whether a needle free alternative increased influenza vaccination coverage.
FluMist has been widely used in the Northern Hemisphere (United Kingdom, United States and Europe) over the past decade and has been approved by the TGA for use in Australia since 2016 but has not previously been manufactured with a southern hemisphere influenza vaccine composition.
It is given as a nasal spray into both nostrils, is well tolerated and quickly absorbed. This makes it convenient for children who may prefer to avoid needles. FluMist can be co-administered with other routine childhood vaccines.
As FluMist is a live attenuated vaccine, children with certain medical conditions may be recommended to have injectable influenza vaccine instead. ATAGI will release their final recommendations in the new year.
Side effects from FluMist are usually mild and most commonly include a runny or blocked nose, headache or general tiredness. Anaphylaxis is extremely rare.
For continuity and record keeping, providers are requested to report FluMist vaccinations to the Australian Immunisation Register.
Fluenz is the equivalent intranasal influenza vaccine in the United Kingdom and was introduced to their childhood and school immunisation program for school aged children in 2013 by their Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation. A school-based model was used with the objective of achieving high coverage and thereby decreasing influenza transmission in the community and preventing influenza in older adults.
Further details, provider resources, timelines and ordering information for immunisation providers will be made available on this website. This will be available in the lead-up to the program’s commencement in 2026 once ATAGI have provided their recommendations.
Webinars and instructional videos will be available pre-launch in early 2026.
Resources will also be available to support parents’ decisions to vaccinate.
