GPs Urge People To Get Flu Vaccine As NSW Reform Makes Children Over Two Eligible

The NSW Government has officially lowered the age limit for the flu vaccine, with children as young as two now eligible, in a move designed to take pressure off GPs and boost immunisation rates ahead of what’s expected to be a severe flu season.

Previously, only general practitioners were authorised to vaccinate children under five against influenza. But a steady decline in vaccination coverage for this age group — from 41.3 per cent in 2020 to just 25.4 per cent in 2024 — has prompted urgent reform. Now, community pharmacists will be able to step in to help close that gap.

Health Minister Ryan Park announced the change as part of the state’s broader winter health preparedness strategy. “We want to make it as accessible and as convenient as possible for young children to receive their influenza vaccine ahead of a severe winter season,” he said. “Children aged two years and older can now receive their vaccine from their local family pharmacist. We know it can be difficult to find a GP, and we are taking pressure off of our GPs with this rule change. Vaccination is the best protection from serious illness from influenza.”

Health orgs urge people to get vaccine ahead of severe flu season

The Pharmacy Guild of Australia has welcomed the move. In a statement delivered to City Hub, NSW State President Mario Barone said: “No parent should need to worry about access to healthcare for their child. This announcement means that a new cohort of children can visit their community pharmacy and receive a flu vaccine.” He added, “Community pharmacy is ready to take pressure off busy GPs and emergency departments by providing more vaccinations and treating a wider range of everyday health conditions.”

Until now, community pharmacists were limited to administering flu vaccines to patients aged five and over, despite delivering nearly 40 per cent of all flu jabs nationally. This reform not only broadens that capacity, but also supports pharmacists’ growing role in frontline healthcare — especially after the success of pharmacist-led treatment trials for UTIs, oral contraceptives and skin conditions.

The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) has also backed the new measures, while reiterating its call for urgent action amid low vaccination uptake across all age groups.

“The flu must be taken seriously, and these low vaccination rates should be ringing alarm bells,” said RACGP President Dr Michael Wright. “Earlier this year, we called for action following more than 46,000 lab-confirmed flu cases, a 50% spike compared to the same period last year. We’re also seeing an alarming fall in vaccination rates nationwide compared to previous years, as well as for other respiratory diseases including COVID-19 and whooping cough. I urge all Australians to keep in mind that the flu can not only land you in hospital, but take your life, and it must be taken seriously.”

More than 71,000 confirmed flu cases have already been reported to the National Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System in 2025, with experts forecasting a season similar to recent outbreaks overseas. Dr Wright warned, “Unless we’re prepared, our health system will come under tremendous strain, including our hospitals potentially being pushed to the brink.”

With flu vaccines now more accessible than ever — and free for eligible groups under the National Immunisation Program — health leaders are urging families not to delay. “Spread the word – the flu is a serious illness, and this year is looking especially dire, so get vaccinated right away,” said Dr Wright.

For more information about vaccination options in NSW, including pharmacy locations, visit NSW Health.