Another state takes up needle-free flu vaccination
23 Sep 2025
South Australia will join New South Wales and Queensland in offering a free needle-free flu vaccination program for children aged 2–4 from next year.
The South Australian Government announced it will introduce the intranasal influenza vaccine, sold as FluMist, which will be administered by GPs ahead of next year’s flu season. Similar programs were announced in NSW and Queensland last week.
RACGP Board and South Australian Chair Dr Siân Goodson welcomed the move. She said the program is “a lifesaving move” and will make vaccination easier for families. “Many children are fearful of needles, and two-thirds of parents say this distress can be a barrier,” she added.
SA’s Chief Public Health Officer, Professor Nicola Spurrier, said the needle-free vaccine is a great option for young children who may find needles frightening. She highlighted that the vaccine needs to be administered annually and hopes the new approach will encourage more families to vaccinate their children, as seen in other countries.
Evidence from the United Kingdom and the United States shows that introducing needle-free flu vaccines for young children has led to higher vaccination rates and fewer illnesses.
In South Australia, flu vaccination rates are generally high, but only around 25% of children under five are vaccinated. The intranasal spray provides similar protection to the traditional flu shot.
So far this year, 178 children aged 2–4 in South Australia have been hospitalised with the flu, with more than 1,800 cases reported in this age group.
Source: ABC News
