Pharmacy Daily | Needle-free vaccines kick off

NEEDLE-FREE influenza vaccination for children is now available ahead of the coming flu season, with the nasal spray providing a simpler, less stressful experience for kids and parents alike.

The FluMist nasal spray is available free of charge for children aged two to four years (inclusive) in NSW and SA, two to five years (inclusive) in Qld, and two to 11 years (inclusive) in WA.

For children and adolescents outside these age ranges, as well as those in other states, the vaccine is also available privately for those aged 24 months to 17 years inclusive.

Pharmacy Guild of Australia NSW branch president Mario Barone said the program removes one of the biggest barriers to childhood vaccination and is "fantastic news" for families.

"For many children, the fear of needles can be overwhelming - being able to receive flu protection through a simple nasal spray makes the experience much easier and far less stressful," Barone said.

"Complications from influenza can be particularly high among young children, which is why it's so important to get vaccinated before flu season really takes hold.

"Early vaccination helps protect children, their families, and the broader community."

Meanwhile, the National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance (NCIRS) has released new findings from the National Vaccination Insights project, showing concerning shifts in parents' willingness to prioritise flu vaccination for their kids and their perceptions of its importance.

The most commonly reported barrier was distress about vaccination, nominated by 44% of the 2,000 survey respondents, with lack of belief around the efficacy of vaccination for both protecting children and the wider community also featuring prominently.

However, 72% of parents with unvaccinated children said they would be more likely to vaccinate with the introduction of the nasal spray vaccine.

Almost one-third of parents (32.3%) said they were not prioritising flu vaccination, up from 16% the previous year.

Senior author Professor Margie Danchin from the Murdoch Children's Research Institute said the findings highlight an urgent need to refocus influenza communication strategies.

"Influenza vaccination coverage in young children remains well below that of routine childhood vaccines," Professor Danchin said.

"We need to communicate more clearly that influenza can cause severe illness in young children, and in rare cases death, and that vaccination is the most effective way to reduce the risk."

Professor Danchin also highlighted the importance of vaccination providers.

"We need to support them to integrate influenza vaccination into routine care so it becomes something they recommend and offer opportunistically - just as they already do with age-based vaccines," she said.

The report is HERE. KB