News release

From: Australian Science Media Centre

Last year, over 1,700 Australians lost their lives to flu, the highest number of flu deaths this century, but how is the 2026 season shaping up? With winter just over the horizon, we asked three of Australia's leading experts to outline what's likely for the coming winter season.

With the introduction of a new nasal flu vaccine for kids and the RSV vaccine becoming free for older Australians from 15 May, what might these changes mean for the upcoming season of sore throats, sniffles and sneezes?

The briefing will discuss the following issues:

• Are we in for a bad flu season? Case numbers for flu, COVID-19, and RSV
• How do flu, COVID-19, and RSV numbers impact our crowded hospitals?
• What flu strains do our vaccines cover - are we protected against Super K?
• What's happening with bird flu?
• Recent changes to the National Immunisation Program (NIP) - Priority populations, vax recommendation and eligibility for flu, COVID-19, and RSV.
• What are our current vaccine rates like, and what's stopping people from being vaccinated?

Speakers:

• Professor Patrick Reading, Director of the WHO Collaborating Centre for Reference and Research on Influenza, Doherty Institute
• Dr Masha Somi, Acting Deputy Director-General, Australian Centre for Disease Control
• Professor Kristine Macartney, Director of the Australian National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance and Professor of Paediatrics and Child Health at the University of Sydney

The briefing is on the record, and a recording will be available for registered journalists on Scimex after the event.

Date: Tue 5 May 2026
Start Time: 10:00am AEST
Duration: Approx 45 min 
Venue: Online - Zoom