There’s a new nose-spray flu vaccine. Should your kids get it?
A new needle-free flu vaccine, FluMist, is now available in Australia for children aged 2 to 18, offering a nasal spray alternative to traditional injections. Clinical evidence shows it is as safe and effective as the standard flu shot, with the added benefit of producing mucosal immunity where the virus typically enters. It is free for young children in some states but costs $49.95 in others, including Victoria. Experts say the two vaccines offer similar protection, making the choice largely a matter of preference.
- ▪FluMist is a live-attenuated nasal spray vaccine now available in Australia for children aged 2 to 18.
- ▪It has been used in the US since 2003 and in Europe since 2011, with extensive data supporting its safety and effectiveness.
- ▪A 2024 meta-analysis of 19 trials found FluMist and injectable flu vaccines provide similar levels of protection.
- ▪The vaccine works by stimulating mucosal antibodies in the nose and activating T-cell responses, offering front-line defense against influenza.
- ▪FluMist may cause mild nasal symptoms but avoids injection-site pain, and is free for under-fives in NSW, QLD, and SA.
Full article excerpt tap to expand
{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","dateModified":"2026-04-28T09:30:00Z","datePublished":"2026-04-28T09:30:00Z","description":"With flu season almost upon us, it’s time to get vaccinated. And for the first time, there’s more than one option available.","headline":"There’s a new nose-spray flu vaccine. Should your kids get it?","keywords":"Healthcare, Analysis, Just in Age, Flu season","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Liam Mannix","jobTitle":"National Science Reporter","url":"/by/liam-mannix-hvf7m"}],"mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https://www.smh.com.au/healthcare/there-s-a-new-nose-spray-flu-vaccine-should-your-kids-get-it-20260428-p5zrlj.html","@type":"WebPage"},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","height":"1322.6666666666665","url":"https://static.ffx.io/images/$zoom_0.426%2C$multiply_0.7025%2C$ratio_1.777778%2C$width_1059%2C$x_0%2C$y_457/t_crop_custom/q_86%2Cf_auto/06cff0dbf2d563626eff0e752b83755b04db42b9","width":"744"},"isAccessibleForFree":false,"hasPart":[{"@type":"WebPageElement","isAccessibleForFree":false,"cssSelector":".paywall"}],"publisher":{"@type":"NewsMediaOrganization","name":"The Sydney Morning Herald","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","height":"628","url":"https://www.smh.com.au/metro-assets/assets/static/smh.png","width":"1200"},"url":"https://www.smh.com.au"},"isPartOf":{"@type":["CreativeWork","Product"],"name":"The Sydney Morning Herald","productID":"smh.com.au:webonly"}}{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","item":{"@id":"https://www.smh.com.au","name":"Home"},"position":1},{"@type":"ListItem","item":{"@id":"https://www.smh.com.au/national","name":"National"},"position":2},{"@type":"ListItem","item":{"@id":"https://www.smh.com.au/topic/healthcare-5y6","name":"Healthcare"},"position":3}]}AdvertisementAnalysisNationalHealthcareThere’s a new nose-spray flu vaccine. Should your kids get it?Liam MannixApril 28, 2026 — 7:30pmSaveYou have reached your maximum number of saved items.Remove items from your saved list to add more.ShareAAAExamine, a free weekly newsletter covering science with a sceptical, evidence-based eye, is sent every Tuesday. You’re reading an excerpt – sign up to get the whole newsletter in your inbox.It is my solemn duty to report that it’s time to think about getting your flu jab again.With vaccine effectiveness tending to peak one to two months after the jab, and flu season tending to peak in June and July, getting vaccinated now makes a lot of sense.And this year, we have a whiz-bang new vaccine to talk about. It’s called FluMist, and it’s our first needle-free influenza vaccine, available for young people aged between two and 18.This is important because Australia does a weirdly bad job at vaccinating children for the flu – vaccination rates are lower than in adults – despite children having the highest influenza rates and tending to suffer most when it hits.AdvertisementThe FluMist vaccine.FluMist comes in a small two-dose tube, and the vaccine is sprayed into each nostril similar to an anti-allergy spray. And you’re done. No need to inhale deeply or hold your nose.This seems an obvious choice for children with an aversion to needles, and it’s free in NSW, Queensland and South Australia for kids under five. For older children – and everyone in Victoria – you’ll be out of pocket $49.95. About 400,000 doses are available through private pharmacies, AstraZeneca tells me, and I was able to find doses widely.So, how does a…
This excerpt is published under fair use for community discussion. Read the full article at The Sydney Morning Herald.
Discussion
0 commentsMore from The Sydney Morning Herald
