The Queensland Government is investing $5 million to bring needle-free influenza vaccination to Queensland’s youngest children for the first time in Australia.
FluMist® is the first non-injectable influenza vaccine to be introduced to the Australian market and is administered as a nasal spray.
Widely used for childhood vaccinations overseas, countries offering FluMist® have seen an increase in immunisation coverage and a reduction in hospital and flu presentation.
Member for Scenic Rim, Jon Krause, said the new vaccination program would be trialled next year, allowing parents to vaccinate their children aged between two and up to five years of age.
“It means parents can avoid the anxiety of a needle injection for their young ones,” he said.
“Research shows that six in 10 parents experience distress when thinking about vaccinating their children against influenza, and more than a quarter of young kids experience intense needle phobia.”
While the influenza vaccine is currently funded under the Commonwealth Government’s National Immunisation Program for all children aged six months to less than five years of age, FluMist® is not yet on this program.
Under the Queensland Government’s FluMist® program to be trialled next year, parents will not have to pay when vaccinating their children aged two years and up to five years.