GPs have welcomed the Western Australian Government's announcement that, from 2026, children aged two to 12 can receive needle-free flu vaccines from their GP - calling the move "nothing short of lifesaving."
It comes following the Royal Australian College of GPs (RACGP) throwing its support behind Queensland, New South Wales and South Australia heeding the College's calls to introduce free childhood intranasal influenza vaccinations next year ahead of the 2026 flu season. 2025 has seen Australia record more than 390,000 lab-confirmed influenza cases.
RACGP Vice President and Western Australian Chair, Dr Ramya Raman, praised the announcement.
"This decision will save young lives," she said.
"Delivering flu vaccinations via an intranasal spray is a step forward in keeping young children, who are among the most at risk from a severe flu infection including hospitalisation, as safe as possible from this virus.
"The intranasal spray is a proven vaccine that will have a significant impact across our state. Many children are fearful of needles and two thirds of parents tell us the level of distress they experience when thinking about vaccinating their child acts as a barrier.
"Intranasal sprays provide the same level of protection and have been thoroughly tested for safety and efficacy. They've been used overseas in Finland, the United Kingdom, Italy, and Spain for years and these countries have seen substantial increases in vaccination coverage in high-risk patient groups.
"So, today's announcement is nothing short of lifesaving and I encourage all Western Australian families to take full advantage of this free vaccination next year."
Dr Raman said that the new intranasal vaccine came at a vital time.
"In 2025 in Western Australia, and across the nation, flu rates rose, and vaccination rates fell. This created the perfect storm for influenza to spread, and we must reverse this trend," she said.
"We've had more than 28,000 lab-confirmed flu cases in our state this year, compared to just over 17,000 in all of last year. This is part of a much larger nationwide problem, with more than 390,000 flu cases in Australia in 2025.
"The number one thing you can do to keep yourself, your family, and people in your community as safe as possible against the flu is to make sure you and your kids are vaccinated. In 2025, just 23% of children aged six months to five years in WA are vaccinated against the flu – the second lowest out of all states and territories.
"Keep in mind too that ensuring you and your family members are vaccinated helps protects others. Anyone, even otherwise young and healthy adults, can end up in hospital after contracting this virus, and some people are particularly vulnerable to severe effects. This includes not only young children, but also older patients, the immunocompromised and people with serious health conditions.
"Australia's COVID-19 vaccine rollout was the envy of nations around the world; however, it has perhaps led to a certain level of 'vaccine fatigue' creeping in, with some people approaching vaccinations for other diseases less seriously. Let's boost vaccination rates and make sure next year's flu numbers are heading in the right direction."
Earlier this year, the RACGP urged Australians to protect themselves and others against influenza, warning of rising case numbers and hospitalisations during the peak winter months.
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