Telethon Kids Institute FluBub vaccine trial for newborns

Babies as young as two months old will be given the adult dose of the flu shot in a new vaccine trial in two Australian hospitals.

Perth researchers are launching a vaccine trial for children as young as two months old to help protect them against influenza.

Babies at two hospitals will be given a full adult dose of the vaccine, under supervision, as part of the Telethon Kids Institute study.

Institute professor Chris Blyth said the FluBub study would take place at Perth Children’s Hospital and Adelaide’s Women and Children’s Hospital.

The Telethon Kids Institute study is seeking 160 babies to get the flu jab at two months old. Picture: NCA NewsWire / John Gass

“This year has already seen an early influx of severe flu cases amongst children Australia-wide, which coincides with reduced flu vaccination uptake,” Professor Blyth told Seven.

“We have already seen an increase in hospitalisations with one recent death, and we are keen to protect as many babies and children as possible.”

Researchers are looking to recruit 160 babies for the study over the next two years, with children under six months most at risk from hospitalisation with the flu.

“But we don’t have a licensed vaccine for them,” Professor Blyth said.

The trials will be held in Perth and Adelaide. Picture: NCA NewsWire / David Crosling

News of the study comes a month after the death of three-year-old Muhammed Segaff, who died at Perth’s Fiona Stanley Hospital after presenting with influenza A.

He’s the youngest flu death in Western Australia this year.

West Australians over the age of six months have until Saturday to receive a free flu vaccination.