National uptake has increased from:

• 27.5% to 29.9% in children aged 6 months to under 2 years.
• 18.3% to 22.7% in children aged 2 to under 6 years.
• 18.8% to 23.2% in First Nations children aged 6 months to under 2 years.
• 11.5% to 16.8% in First Nations children aged 2 to under 6 years.

Within the south east Melbourne region, coverage remains at or above the national across most age groups, and general practice continues to deliver the majority (54.5%) of influenza vaccinations nationally. 

How can we continue to improve?

Alongside parental beliefs, NCIRS reports distress of vaccination as one of the most common barriers to childhood vaccination uptake rates. What if there’s a new approach for combatting children’s fear of needles and injection pain?

A new vaccination development is underway following the rollout of a state-funded nasal influenza vaccine (live attenuated influenza vaccine) over the 2026 flu season for children in NSW, QLD, SA and WA. Early NCIRS data shows a strong uptake, with more than 80% of vaccinated children in WA receiving the needle-free vaccine and 60-70% in other participating states.

In the UK, live attenuated influenza vaccine (LAIV) has been used in childhood vaccination programs since 2013, with estimates of its vaccine effectiveness ranging between 50% and 65% and reports of the vaccine preventing up to 50% of influenza hospitalisations in young children. These figures vary each year depending on the match between the vaccine influenza strains and influenza strains spreading locally.

A recent systematic review found that LAIV is as effective as traditional injectable vaccines, suggesting that it may help overcome one of the most common barriers to childhood vaccination and support further improvements in coverage.