THE Northern Territory Government is being urged to follow other parts of the country and commit to rolling out needle-free influenza vaccinations for young children next year.

The call comes following announcements that free childhood intranasal vaccinations will be provided ahead of the 2026 flu season in Queensland,NSW,South AustraliaandWestern Australia.

The Royal Australian College of GPs Northern Territory Chair Dr Sam Heard called on the Northern Territory Government to act.

“The Government must commit to rolling out free, intranasal flu vaccinations for young kids next year,” Dr Heard said.

“I can’t think of a more sensible and necessary public health investment,” he continued.

“This is a cost-effective and necessary step to keep young children, who are among the most at risk [of] a severe flu infection including hospitalisation, as safe as possible.”

In the face of record flu numbers for the 2025 season, alongside declining vaccination rates (PD 20 Oct), Dr Heard encouraged all patients to get vaccinated against the flu every year, pointing out that “we are all in this together”.

“This year, in the NT, we’ve already had 4,000 lab-confirmed influenza cases, compared to 3,299 cases in all of last year, and the true number of flu cases Territory-wide is no doubt far higher,” said Dr Heard.

“The most concerning thing is that not enough people are getting vaccinated against the flu, and we must reverse that trend.

“All Territorians should be asking themselves a simple question – why have other states and territories already announced free intranasal flu vaccinations for young children?

“Northern Territory families are being left behind, and it’s time for us to catch up,” he concluded. KB

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