There’s a new nose-spray flu vaccine. Should your kids get it?

April 28, 2026 — 7:30pm

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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.

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,........

© The Sydney Morning Herald