A new study will explore the effects of a nasal spray flu vaccine on children’s immune systems, with the aim of boosting future protection and reducing vaccine hesitancy rates.
The study, led by the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute (MCRI), included FluMist, a nasal spray vaccine manufactured by AstraZeneca, as well as the standard, injectable flu shot to better understand each child’s immune response. Parents can choose which vaccine they would like their children to get.
This is the first study of its kind where some of the samples collected will help the World Health Organization (WHO) to prepare flu vaccines and strain selection for children in the Southern Hemisphere.
to sniff Victoria is being admitted to 270 children aged two to nine who have not yet received a flu vaccine. FluMist has been approved by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) for safe and effective use in children aged two to 17 years.
MCRI Associate Professor Shidan Tosif, who leads the project, said the results will provide valuable new insights into how immunity to influenza vaccines develops in children and help promote future protection.
The best way to prevent flu and reduce its effects is to get vaccinated every year. The nasal spray has been used safely for years in countries like the UK and US, but it became available in Australia for the first time this year. “This creates the perfect opportunity to study immune responses in children after receiving flu vaccines.”
Shidan Tosif, Project Lead, MCRI Associate Professor
Associate Professor Tosif, a pediatrician at The Royal Children’s Hospital, said the nasal spray would potentially make vaccination easier and less frustrating for children.
Influenza remains a significant public health issue in Australia, particularly in young children. In 2024, more than 365,000 cases of flu were reported nationwide, the highest number on record, the majority of which occurred in children under the age of 10.
Despite the availability of effective vaccines, uptake remains low. In Victoria, only 32 per cent of children aged six months to five years and 15 per cent of children aged five to 15 years were vaccinated in 2024.
Additionally, new findings from the 2025 National Immunization Insights Project show a worrying shift in parents’ willingness to prioritize influenza vaccination. But the survey found that 72.2 percent of parents agreed that a needle-free option would make them more likely to prefer vaccines.
Associate Professor Tosif said the findings would also help WHO prepare flu vaccines for children.
“The study will provide WHO with blood samples from Australian children, helping to fill a gap in global flu surveillance that focuses on people living in the Northern Hemisphere,” he said. “These samples will ensure that our children’s immune responses are considered when flu vaccine strains are chosen, improving vaccine effectiveness in the field and supporting global influenza preparedness.”
Danica and George’s 8-year-old son, Panos, is participating in the study.
“A lot of little kids are afraid of needles,” Danica said. “Some people can’t tolerate needles, so this nasal spray is going to be a game-changer for those kids. Many more kids will be vaccinated, which means a lot less disease spreading on school campuses.
“We are always happy to support child health research. As a family, we stay up to date on the flu vaccine, so we are especially eager to help improve the vaccination experience.”
The MOVE Consortium in the UK and the WHO Collaborating Center for Reference and Research on Influenza at The Doherty Institute will analyze the biological samples and data.
