The school bell rings, but for families at Connolly Primary School, the day isn't quite over. Instead of heading straight to the car, parents are stopping by a makeshift clinic in the school hall. It’s a simple shift in routine, but one that could change how Western Australian families manage the winter flu season.

Connolly Primary has partnered with Kinross Pharmacy to host optional, after-school flu vaccination clinics. It is a direct response to a common parental dilemma: finding the time to book and attend a medical appointment amidst the chaos of work, school, and extracurriculars. By bringing the pharmacy to the school, the barrier to entry effectively disappears.

This isn't just about convenience. It is a targeted effort to address stagnant vaccination rates. As of mid-June, only 15.4 percent of children aged 6 to 12 in Western Australia had received their flu shot. That number is low. For public health officials, the goal is to move that needle before the peak of winter illness hits.

The Logic of Accessibility

Keiran Batavia, the pharmacist behind the initiative, sees the friction in the current system every day. Parents are busy. Children are tired. Adding a trip to a clinic feels like a chore, not a health necessity. By embedding the service into the school day, the vaccine becomes a part of the workflow rather than a disruption.

"We’re finding a lot of parents and children struggle to get out to the pharmacy," Batavia said. "Making it more accessible allows them to get it done within their routine."

For younger students, the clinic offers FluMist, a needle-free nasal spray. It is a significant draw for parents of children who fear the traditional jab. By removing the anxiety of a needle, the school hopes to increase uptake among the primary school demographic, which has historically been a vector for spreading influenza within households.

A Different Winter Landscape

This year’s flu season looks different than the last. In May 2025, Western Australia recorded 1,824 flu cases. This May, that number plummeted to just 319. While the numbers are encouraging, health officials are not relaxing.

Education and Preventative Health Minister Sabine Winton visited the site this week to endorse the model. The government is currently offering free influenza vaccinations for people aged 12 to 64 until June 30. The partnership at Connolly acts as a delivery vehicle for this state-funded initiative, bridging the gap between policy and the people it is meant to protect.

Key Takeaways

  • Connolly Primary School is hosting after-school flu clinics in partnership with Kinross Pharmacy to improve local vaccination access.
  • The program offers needle-free FluMist for children aged two to 12, aiming to reduce anxiety and increase participation.
  • Despite a quieter flu season compared to 2025, vaccination rates for children remain low, hovering around 15 percent.

The Next Step for Local Health

The success of this pilot will likely determine whether other schools in the Joondalup region follow suit. With the state-funded free vaccination window closing on June 30, the next two weeks are critical. If the Connolly model proves that school-based clinics can significantly lift local uptake, the state may look to formalize these pharmacy-school partnerships as a permanent fixture of the winter health strategy. For now, the focus is on the next clinic date. The health of the school community depends on it.

This article is for informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making any medical decisions.