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Current Safety Alerts and Information Relevant to Schools:

https://sites.google.com/esn.org.au/csoa/news-alerts

Winter Health Update 2026: Preparing for the Season Ahead

Advice from NSW Health following the School Health Briefing with the three education sectors dated 4th June 2026.

As we move into the winter months, NSW Health has provided updated advice for schools regarding seasonal illnesses and recommended preparedness measures.

Current Health Situation

NSW Health reports that:

COVID-19 levels remain low and are not expected to significantly impact schools this winter.
RSV (Respiratory Syncytial Virus) is increasing and is currently at high levels across NSW.
Influenza (flu) activity is currently low but is expected to rise in coming weeks, potentially later than usual this year.
Gastroenteritis is also showing early signs of increasing activity.

What This Means for Schools

The primary health concerns for schools this winter are RSV and influenza, rather than COVID-19.

Schools may experience:

Increased student absences
Higher staff absences
Greater demand on local health services

Children are expected to be particularly affected by influenza if activity increases later in the season.

Free Nasal Spray Flu Vaccine Available Now

A free nasal spray influenza vaccine is currently available for children aged 2–17 years.

Benefits

Needle-free option that may improve vaccination uptake
Particularly effective for school-aged children
Simple and quick administration

Important Information

Supply is limited and stock is expected to expire soon.
Some availability remains through participating GPs and pharmacies until mid-July.
Protection takes approximately two weeks to develop after vaccination.

Families are encouraged to arrange vaccination as soon as possible.

Recommended Actions for Schools

1. Promote Vaccination

Schools are encouraged to remind families that:

The free nasal spray flu vaccine is available now.
Vaccination before influenza activity increases is strongly recommended.
The vaccine offers a needle-free alternative for children who are uncomfortable with injections.
Availability is limited and time-sensitive.

2. Prepare for Increased Illness

With RSV levels already high and influenza expected to increase, schools should review:

Student absence management processes
Staff contingency and relief planning
Communication procedures for illness outbreaks

3. Reinforce Hygiene Practices

Continue to promote healthy behaviours across the school community:

Stay home when unwell
Wash hands regularly
Cover coughs and sneezes appropriately
Dispose of tissues promptly
Increase cleaning of high-touch surfaces and shared areas

4. Monitor and Respond to Illness

Schools should remain alert to:

Clusters of respiratory illness
Emerging gastroenteritis symptoms within classes or cohorts

Continue following existing procedures for:

Reporting outbreaks
Managing unwell students and staff
Communicating with families when required

5. Travel Awareness – Measles

While there are currently no measles outbreaks in schools, NSW Health advises continued vigilance.

As measles cases remain linked to international travel:

Be alert to symptoms in students who have recently returned from overseas.
Follow established health notification and reporting procedures where concerns arise.

Key Message for School Leaders

The priority for schools this winter is to encourage flu vaccination now and prepare for increasing RSV and influenza activity. COVID-19 is not expected to be the primary health challenge this season.

Maintaining strong hygiene practices, monitoring illness trends, and supporting vaccination uptake will help minimise disruption to learning and school operations throughout winter.

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