24/03/2026
The new NSW Nasal Spray Influenza Vaccination Program offers FluMist®, a live attenuated influenza vaccine that is administered to each nostril, to children aged 2, 3 or 4 years.
We do have FluMist® available for this age group if you would prefer a needle-free alternative.
NSW families will soon have access to needle-free flu vaccines for little ones. The FluMist nasal spray is coming in 2026 for kids aged 2-5, and it's completely free through GPs.
The nasal spray targets immunity exactly where flu viruses enter the body - through the nose and throat. Early evidence suggests it may be particularly effective in young children's developing immune systems, where nasal passages are especially active in building protection.
With over 600 NSW children under 5 hospitalised with flu this year alone, FluMist offers an effective solution that could significantly improve protection in this vulnerable age group. Plus, it removes the stress and trauma that often keeps families away from flu vaccination entirely.
Read our conversation with The University of Newcastle, Australia Professor Nathan Bartlett, head of HMRI's Viral Immunology and Respiratory Disease Group, on the science behind needle-free immunity: https://okt.to/E0nlT1
