REVOLUTIONARY FLU VACCINE ROLLS OUT IN WESTERN AUSTRALIA: “Lifesaving” Nasal Spray to Boost Child Vaccination Rates After Worst Flu Season on Record
- Over 17,000 child presentations to emergency departments so far this year, with 1,300 hospital admissions
- Western Australia records its worst flu season, with vaccination rates falling to alarming levels
- New nasal spray vaccine, FluMist, hailed as a “lifesaver” by the Royal Australian College of GPs
Elsie Barendrecht, 10, was one of the first children in Western Australia to receive the new nasal flu vaccination, FluMist, which is set to revolutionize the way we tackle the flu. The innovative vaccine is administered via a nasal spray, boosted child vaccination rates after the worst flu season on record.
The move comes as the state battles a “perfect flu storm” with vaccination rates plummeting and flu cases skyrocketing. According to Preventative Health Minister Sabine Winton, a staggering 25% of flu cases have been in children aged two to 12, with 17,000 child presentations to emergency departments so far this year and 1,300 hospital admissions.
In a heartbreaking development, the Royal Australian College of GPs (RACGP) reveals that many children are frightened of needles, which can make parents reluctant to get them vaccinated. “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,” said RACGP vice president Ramya Raman.
Dr. Raman hailed the new vaccine as a lifesaver, stating, “Young children are especially vulnerable to severe flu infections, and the new vaccine will save young lives.” Nasal spray vaccinations have been used widely across Europe for many years, resulting in significant increases in vaccination rates, according to the RACGP.
Health Minister Meredith Hammat described the current flu season as the “worst on record,” with reported virus rates the highest they’ve ever been for September. “We’re experiencing our state’s worst flu season on record, but while winter is over, the flu season is not… This nasal spray gives parents a more comfortable and convenient option for vaccinating their kids — and we believe this will significantly boost vaccine uptake next year.”
The new nasal vaccine, approved by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA), will be available before the start of next year’s flu season. The move is set to boost vaccination rates, which currently stand at a worrying 23% of WA children aged between six months and five years.
The roll-out of the nasal spray vaccine is not limited to Western Australia, with New South Wales, Queensland, and South Australia also set to introduce the vaccine next year.