Queensland Expands Free Flu Vaccination With Needle-Free Option for Young Children
Queensland has expanded its free influenza vaccination programme to include a needle-free nasal spray for young children, as part of a A$31 million public health initiative launched this month. The programme aims to improve vaccination uptake by reducing barriers for families, particularly for children who may be anxious about injections. The nasal spray vaccine is now being supplied to general practitioners and pharmacies across the state.
The changes form part of a broader effort by the Queensland Government to strengthen access to frontline health services following sustained pressure on the system in recent years. Details of the programme were outlined in an official government statement, published on the Queensland Government website.
Needle-free vaccination for children aged two to five
The FluMist vaccine is available to children aged two to five years and is administered as a gentle nasal spray into both nostrils. Health authorities say this option is intended to reduce distress for young children and make it easier for clinicians to deliver vaccinations in community settings.
According to the Queensland Government, the expanded programme is fully funded and available statewide. Since the start of 2026, more than 6,690 people in Queensland have tested positive for influenza, following almost 100,000 confirmed cases in 2025, when 9,687 patients were hospitalised.
Broader workforce and legislative changes
Alongside the vaccination rollout, the government has amended legislation to expand the scope of practice for trained health professionals. Vaccinations can now be administered by registered nurses, midwives, pharmacists, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health practitioners in any location, a move designed to improve convenience and coverage.
These reforms reflect a wider focus across Australian jurisdictions on modernising public services and improving delivery models. Comparable efforts in other policy areas include initiatives to accelerate innovation and system reform, such as New South Wales’ approach to technology commercialisation and the Commonwealth’s work on responsible use of emerging technologies in government.
Health system pressures and performance
The government says the vaccination programme sits alongside ongoing measures to address hospital capacity and patient flow. Ramping rates reached 37.3 per cent in the last quarter of 2025, described as a five-year low, while elective surgery volumes have remained stable at 60,785 procedures, down from a peak of 66,632 recorded after the state election.
“The needle-free flu vaccine takes much of the anxiety out of the vaccination experience and will make it easier for clinicians to administer the flu vaccine and ensure more children are protected from influenza.” — Tim Nicholls, Minister for Health and Ambulance Services, Queensland Government
Parents seeking further information about eligibility or availability are encouraged to consult healthcare providers. The government has indicated that improving access to preventive care, including vaccinations, remains a priority as part of longer-term health system recovery.
