Queensland secures needle-free kids vax in Australian first

The Crisafulli Government will fund an Australian-first free non-injectable flu vaccination for two, three and four year olds.
FluMist® is administered as a nasal spray as opposed to the traditional needle method.
The $5 million investment is part of the Crisafulli Government’s commitment to heal Labor’s Health Crisis, after a decade of decline.

The Crisafulli Government is investing $5 million to bring a needle-free influenza vaccination to Queensland’s youngest kids 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, providing peace of mind for kids and an alternative for those who are needle-averse.

Widely used for childhood vaccination overseas, countries offering FluMist® have seen an increase in immunisation coverage and a reduction in hospital and GP flu presentation.

A decade of decline under the former Labor Government left Queensland in a Health Crisis, with the nation’s highest ambulance ramping rates and a skyrocketing elective surgery waitlist.

Labor’s under-investment in hospitals and health services over 10 years heaped pressure on the State’s health system and leaving Queensland’s hospitals on life support.

The Crisafulli Government has been working hard over the past 10 months to heal Labor’s Health Crisis, including investing $25 million to provide free flu vaccinations for all Queenslanders, after Labor failed to do so in last year’s Budget.

Minister for Health and Ambulance Services Tim Nicholls said the new paediatric influenza vaccination program will be trialled next year, allowing parents to vaccinate their toddlers aged between 2 and up to 5 years of age.

“Next year, for the first time in Australia, FluMist® will be available and the Crisafulli Government is acting quickly to secure vaccine supply for Queensland’s youngest,” Minister Nicholls said.

“Our investment means that parents can avoid the anxiety of a needle injection for their young ones.

“Research has shown that six in 10 parents experience distress when thinking about vaccinating their child against influenza, and more than a quarter of young kids experience intense needle phobia.

“After Labor’s decade of decline led to falling vaccination rates across the state, securing this product for Queenslanders will provide an alternative option to help parents overcome the uptake barrier with their young children,” Minister Nicholls said.

The influenza vaccine is funded under the Commonwealth Government’s National Immunisation Program for all children aged 6 months to less than 5 years of age. However, FluMist® is not yet on this program.

Under the program to be trialled next year in Queensland, parents will not have to pay when vaccinating their children aged 2 years to less than 5 years of age.

Chief Health Officer, Dr Catherine McDougall, said FluMist® has been used extensively overseas, including in the United Kingdom, contributing to increased influenza vaccine uptake among children.

“While younger children are less likely to experience serious cases of the flu, we know that they can be superspreaders,” Dr McDougall said.

“Importantly, this vaccination option will help reduce the spread of the flu from young kids to their siblings, parents and grandparents.

“Evidence from overseas indicates high acceptability and real-world effectiveness in significantly improving paediatric influenza vaccine uptake.

“In the first year of the UK’s FluMist® program, vaccination rates reached approximately 40% in the target age cohort.

“Currently, influenza vaccination coverage among children under five years of age is under 20 per cent in Queensland.

“Parental and child anxiety about needles is a major barrier, which is why Queensland Health has acted to ensure supply will be available for children aged 2, 3 and 4.

“FluMist® will also be available to private patients aged up to 17 years of age,” Dr McDougall said.

ENDS

MEDIA CONTACT: Torny Miller, 0439 426 196