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Australia Expands Flu Vaccination Programs with Nasal Spray for Children and Broader Access for Adults Over 50

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Australia Expands Flu Vaccination Options for 2026 Season

Australia has expanded its influenza vaccination options for the 2026 flu season, introducing a needle-free nasal spray vaccine for children and broadening access to an adjuvanted vaccine for individuals aged 50 and over. These initiatives aim to increase vaccination coverage and mitigate the impact of influenza.

New Nasal Spray Vaccine for Children

FluMist, a needle-free nasal spray influenza vaccine, has been introduced in Australia for children aged 2-17 years for the 2026 winter season. This option is intended to address vaccination hesitancy, particularly among children who may fear needles, given that less than one in four Australian children received an influenza vaccination in 2025.

FluMist is intended to address vaccination hesitancy, particularly among children who may fear needles.

Vaccine Mechanism and Administration

FluMist is a live attenuated vaccine, containing a weakened form of the flu strain. Its genetic segments are altered to prevent efficient replication at normal body temperatures, limiting its replication to the cooler nasal passages. Health professionals administer the vaccine by spraying 0.1ml into each nostril. It is generally well-tolerated.

Effectiveness and Safety Profile

Early studies indicated strong protection from nasal spray vaccines. Current data suggest they offer similar effectiveness to injected vaccines, reducing influenza infection by 40–60%. A temporary withdrawal of the live attenuated vaccine recommendation occurred in the US in the mid-2010s due to reduced effectiveness, but subsequent changes to vaccine strain selection processes have led to current data demonstrating comparable effectiveness to injected options.

Side effects are typically mild and transient, with common occurrences including a blocked or runny nose (reported by over 50% of children) and, less frequently, fever or headache (around 10%). The vaccine is not recommended for individuals who are severely immunosuppressed or regularly take aspirin. Medical advice is advised for those who are mildly immunosuppressed, have severe asthma or other lung diseases, or for pregnant adolescents. FluMist has been in use internationally since 2003 in the US, 2010 in Canada, 2011 in Europe, and as part of a national childhood program in the UK since 2013.

Availability in Australia (2026)

FluMist is available with varied funding arrangements across Australian states and territories. The vaccine is currently registered for use only in children in Australia. Private market costs are estimated at $50–70.

  • New South Wales and South Australia: Free for children aged 2-4 years; private market for 5-17 years.
  • Queensland: Free for children aged 2-5 years; private market for 6-17 years.
  • Western Australia: Free for children aged 2-11 years; private market for 12-17 years.
  • Australian Capital Territory, Northern Territory, Tasmania, Victoria: Private market for children aged 2-17 years.

Increased childhood vaccination is associated with reduced illness and school absenteeism, and can contribute to lower community transmission of influenza, potentially reducing healthcare costs and pressure on health providers.

Expanded Adjuvanted Vaccine for Adults Aged 50 and Over

CSL Seqirus has announced that Fluad, an adjuvanted influenza vaccine, is now approved for Australians aged 50 and over. Previously, Fluad was funded in Australia only for adults aged 65 and over under the National Immunisation Program.

Adjuvanted vaccines contain an ingredient designed to enhance and prolong the immune response, which can be particularly beneficial for older individuals.

Rationale for Expanded Eligibility

Adjuvanted vaccines contain an ingredient designed to enhance and prolong the immune response, which can be particularly beneficial for older individuals. CSL Seqirus stated that individuals aged 50 and over face a higher risk of severe flu due to potential immune system decline and increased likelihood of underlying health conditions such as diabetes, cardiovascular, and respiratory diseases. Public Health Physician and GP, Professor Paul Van Buynder, indicated that the immune system changes with age, underscoring the importance of vaccination for this demographic.

Annually in Australia, influenza is estimated to cause over 13,500 hospitalizations and more than 3,000 deaths in adults aged 50 and over. In 2025, one-third of 50-64-year-olds were vaccinated against the flu.

Queensland's Vaccination Program

Queensland has specifically incorporated the FluMist vaccine into its free flu vaccination program for children aged two to five years, supplying it to General Practitioners and Pharmacies. The state's $31 million vaccination program is described as Australia's largest free flu vaccination initiative. Since the beginning of 2026, over 6,690 Queenslanders have tested positive for influenza. This follows almost 100,000 confirmed cases and 9,687 hospitalizations in the state during 2025.