The new study will compare the immune responses of nasal spray vaccines with standard flu shots.
The Murdoch Children’s Research Institute has launched a new study to help tackle falling vaccination rates among children.
The new study, the Southern Hemisphere Nasal Influenza Flu Vaccine Experience Study (SNIFFLES), will see 270 Victorian children aged between two and nine years be administered either FluMist – a nasal spray vaccine – or a standard injectable flu shot to better understand the immune response to each vaccine. Parents will be able to choose which vaccine option they would like their child to receive.
Associate Professor Shidan Tosif, lead of the SNIFFLES project, said the results would provide novel insights into the way children develop an immune response to influenza vaccines and provide protection from future infections.
“The best way to prevent flu and reduce its impact is to get vaccinated each year,” he said. “The nasal spray has been safely used for years in countries like the UK and US, but this year is available in Australia for the first time. This has created the perfect opportunity to study immune responses in children after receiving one of the flu vaccines.
“The study will [also] provide blood samples from Australian children to the WHO helping to fill a gap in global flu monitoring that focuses on those living in the Northern Hemisphere. These samples will ensure our children’s immune responses are considered when flu vaccine strains are chosen, improving vaccine effectiveness in the region and supporting global influenza preparedness.”
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The paediatrician said the nasal spray vaccine offered an easier, less distressing option for children (and their parents). The 2025 National Vaccination Insights project revealed that while parents acknowledged the importance of their child receiving the influenza vaccination, over 70% of parents felt that a needle-free option would make them more likely to prioritise vaccinating their child.
Data from the National Notifiable Disease Surveillance System indicates there have been more than 30,000 laboratory-confirmed cases of influenza across Australia between 1 January and 13 May 2026, with over 5500 cases in Victoria. Children aged nine years and younger account for the largest proportion of influenza cases.
FluMist has been approved by the TGA for use in children aged two to 17 years.
To find out more about the study, or to register, visit the SNIFFLES page of the MCRI website.
