States offering nasal spray influenza vaccine in 2026
New South Wales, Queensland and South Australia have announced free nasal spray influenza vaccine programs for young children. Already widely used overseas, the FluMist intranasal vaccine is undergoing regulatory approval in Australia ahead of next year’s flu season.
The state programs will cover children aged between 2 and 5 years. The regular injectable influenza vaccine remains free nationwide for all children aged 6 months to < 5 years.
Read more on each state program here:
New South Wales: Free nasal spray influenza vaccine for children under five
Queensland: 2026 Queensland Nasal Spray Flu Immunisation Program
South Australia: Needle-free flu vaccine for SA children
Read more about influenza disease and immunisation at एमवीईसी: इन्फ्लुएंजा
NEJM: Clesrovimab for prevention of RSV disease in healthy infants
A recent trial has shown that a single dose of the monoclonal antibody clesrovimab reduced the incidence of RSV-associated lower respiratory infection and RSV-associated hospitalisation in healthy preterm and full-term infants.
Clesrovimab demonstrated 60% efficacy in reducing medically attended RSV-associated lower respiratory infection and 84% efficacy in reducing RSV-associated hospitalisation. The adverse-event profile of clesrovimab was similar to that of placebo. The authors note that rare serious adverse events may not be detected in a trial of this size (3632 infants).
Read the paper in full: NEJM: Clesrovimab for prevention of RSV disease in healthy infants
Read more about respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) at MVEC: RSV
New York Times: The playbook used to ‘prove’ vaccines cause autism
The New York Times recently published an essay written by public health expert and science communicator Dr Jess Steier. Focusing on the work of vaccine critic David Geier, Dr Steier breaks down the “anti-vaccine research playbook” to help people spot flawed science.
Read the article in full at NYT: The playbook used to ‘prove’ vaccines cause autism
Read more on autism and vaccination on MVEC: Autism and immunisation
Victorian Department of Health: New measles alert
The Victorian Department of Health has issued a new health alert following a new measles case in Victoria. The alert includes an up-to-date list of public exposure sites in Victoria.
Read the alert in full at the department’s page Health alerts: New measles case in Victoria.
Learn more about measles disease and vaccination at एमवीईसी: खसरा
And check out MVEC director Prof Nigel Crawford’s May 2025 Healthed article और podcast, which both cover the current measles resurgence.
The Conversation: Is it too late to get a flu shot?
A recent article published in The Conversation unpacks why it is still worth getting vaccinated against influenza.
The number of एलaboratory-confirmed cases indicate that influenza circulates outside the typical flu season. Vaccination is preferable even where someone has already had the flu this year, especially in older populations.
For more information about influenza disease and vaccination, go to एमवीईसी: इन्फ्लुएंजा
To read the article in full, go to The Conversation: Is it too late to get a flu shot?
Victorian Department of Health: Local transmission of mpox in metropolitan Melbourne
On 8 August 2025, the Victorian Department of Health issues an mpox health alert. From mid-July, 8 mpox cases have been reported including 5 cases locally acquired in metropolitan Melbourne.
In Victoria, free mpox vaccination is available for people who meet certain eligibility criteria.
Read the full health alert at Vic DH: Local transmission of mpox in metropolitan Melbourne
Learn more about mpox at MVEC: Mpox
BBC: Could RFK Jr's move to pull mRNA vaccine funding be a huge miscalculation?
With the US Department of Health and Human Service's (HHS) planned withdrawal of funding for mRNA vaccine technology, the BBC recently published an article outlining why this could be a mistake.
The withdrawal of funding follows US Health Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr questioning the effectiveness of mRNA vaccines in protecting against respiratory viruses.
Prof Andrew Pollard, head of the UK Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation(JCVI), reiterates the strong evidence for safety and efficacy of mRNA COVID-19 vaccines, balanced against the very rare risks for side effects. He explains that abandoning research into mRNA technology will impact options for future vaccines and treatments for rare diseases and cancers.
BBC: Could RFK Jr's move to pull mRNA vaccine funding be a huge miscalculation?
Read more about vaccine platforms on एमवीईसी: वैक्सीन प्लेटफॉर्म
RSV administration error resources: ATAGI advice and clinical guidance
Following reports of RSV administration errors to the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA), ऑस्ट्रेलियाई टीकाकरण रजिस्टर (एआईआर) and local vaccine safety surveillance systems, अतगी has issued a statement reiterating appropriate product indications and recommendations.
The ATAGI Statement on Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) immunisation products and prevention of administration errors includes guidance on the correct administration of RSV immunisation products and actions following inadvertent administration of the incorrect product.
Clinical guidance on the actions required following any RSV administration error has also been included in the Australian Immunisation Handbook.
Practices and immunisers should take appropriate steps to prevent errors, particularly in the context of a relatively new immunisation program. In the event of an error, the vaccinee or guardian should be informed via an open disclosure discussion. The error should also be reported to the jurisdiction’s vaccine safety service (SAEFVIC in Victoria).
Further support can be found via MVECs’ eLearning Vaccine Errors: Prevention, management and open disclosure.
National Immunisation Program pneumococcal changes: Prevenar 20
From 1 September 2025, Prevenar 20 will replace Prevenar 13 और Pneumovax 23 on the childhood and adolescent National Immunisation Program (NIP) schedule.
Routine doses are scheduled at 6 weeks, 4 months and 12 months of age, with an additional dose given for higher risk children at 6 months of age or at diagnosis of the at-risk condition. There is no need to recall a person for ‘catch-up’ if they have already completed their full course of pneumococcal vaccination.
Prevenar 20 is a conjugated vaccine that protects against the bacteria स्ट्रैपटोकोकस निमोनिया. In addition to the protection against the 13 serotypes covered in Prevenar 13, Prevenar 20 offers protection against serotypes 8, 10A, 11A, 12F, 15B, 22F, 33F.
There are no changes to the adult schedule at this time.
Read more on the program changes via the NIP Fact sheet
Read more about pneumococcal at एमवीईसी: न्यूमोकोकल
For further information and the opportunity to ask questions, please save the date for MVEC's upcoming webinar CVU mini: Pneumococcal update. (Recording now available exclusively for Education Portal members.)
TGA: Varicella vaccine shortages
Immunisation providers should be aware of current shortages of the monovalent वैरीसेला vaccines in Australia. This shortage in supply impacts both Varilrix and Varivax. There is no impact to government or NIP stock.
For more information, visit the TGA Medicine shortages report database.