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Flu resources for health professionals
Important links and resources
Below are important links with guidance on flu and coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccines and immunisation.
- ATAGI advice on seasonal influenza vaccines in 2024
- Aged care toolkit for COVID-19 outbreaks
- Aged care facility visitor restrictions
- Advice for COVID-19 vaccine providers
Care@home
COVID@homeplus has recently changed its name to Care@home.
Care@home still provides the same high-quality remote healthcare in the home for people with COVID-19, flu or flu-like illness.
Enrol in Care@home today
The Care@home service provides remote healthcare in the home for vulnerable patients with COVID-19, other respiratory illnesses such as Influenza (flu) or flu-like illness, who meet other specific referral criteria.
If a patient tests positive to COVID-19, flu, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), or other flu-like illness and would like to enrol in Care@home, they must complete an enrolment form.
Care@home is not an emergency or urgent care service.
Care@home assesses, monitors and supports eligible people to safely recover from illness at home. People who are very ill with COVID-19, influenza or ILI require a face-to-face consult through a GP.
If you need urgent care please go to your nearest emergency department or call Triple Zero (000).
Preparing for a flu outbreak in aged care
- Create a flu management plan.
- Aim to have more than 90% of all staff receive the flu vaccine each year.
- Record the flu vaccination status of all residents and staff each year.
- Transfer a residents’ vaccination record with them if they move to another aged care facility.
- Speak to your visiting GP about the use of antivirals in an outbreak.
- Document this in your flu management plan.
- Request standing orders or pre-order of antiviral medication.
- Train your staff in the correct use of personal protective equipment (PPE).
- Train your staff in all infection control practices.
- Maintain enough supplies of PPE, cleaning materials and signs for visitors and residents.
- Contact your pathology provider for a small supply of appropriate swabs for prompt testing.
- Advise families about your infection control policies, isolation protocols and possible visitor restrictions.
- Provide information to families about the benefits of flu vaccination.
Download the steps to help in flu outbreak preparedness factsheet
What to do if there’s a flu outbreak in aged care
- Identifying a flu outbreak early is very important.
- If you suspect a flu outbreak, start your response plan immediately.
- Contact our Communicable Diseases Prevention Unit (CDPU) early for advice.
- We can provide advice on managing and controlling outbreaks of flu and other diseases.
- If you suspect it is coronavirus (COVID-19), call the Public Health Hotline on 1800 671 738.
