WA joins three other states in offering a needle-free flu vaccine.
01 Oct 2025
From next year, young children in Western Australia will be able to receive their flu vaccination without the need for needles.
The WA Government has confirmed it has secured 130,000 doses of the FluMist intranasal spray for 2026, which will be available for children aged 2 to 11 years. The move follows similar announcements from South Australia, New South Wales and Queensland last month.
RACGP Vice-President and WA Chair, Dr Ramya Raman, welcomed the decision, describing it as an important step in protecting children.
“This decision will save young lives. Intranasal sprays are safe, effective, and provide the same protection as traditional flu shots,” Dr Raman said. “Many children are afraid of needles, and this new option will help increase vaccination rates among those most at risk of serious flu illness.”
The spray has already been used successfully in countries including the UK, Finland, Italy and Spain, where it has improved vaccination coverage in children.
WA has recorded more than 28,700 flu cases so far this year, compared with just over 17,000 cases in all of 2024. Health Minister Meredith Hammat said 2025 had been the state’s worst flu season on record.
“This nasal spray gives parents a more comfortable and convenient option, and we believe it will help lift vaccination rates next year,” she said.
Currently, only 23% of WA children aged six months to five years are vaccinated against flu – one of the lowest rates in the country.
Source: RACGP News
