Health, flu & outbreaks
Official NSW and Australian information on flu, COVID-19, RSV, vaccination and public health.
Medical emergency? Call 000. This page links to official health information and is not medical advice.
Unwell and unsure what to do?
healthdirect helpline
1800 022 222Health advice from a registered nurse for any health concern.
Hours: 24/7
Important: For urgent medical help, call 000.
Flu, COVID-19 and RSV
NSW Health’s respiratory illness guidance centres on vaccination, staying home when unwell, wearing a mask if you must go out, and avoiding crowded or poorly ventilated spaces. It also suggests considering a rapid antigen test before visiting people at higher risk, and making a plan with your doctor if you are at higher risk of severe illness.
NSW Health — respiratory illness (flu, COVID-19 and RSV)
NSW Health guidance on flu, COVID-19 and RSV: vaccination, staying home when unwell, wearing a mask if you must go out, testing before visiting people at higher risk, and links to weekly respiratory surveillance reports.
Important: This page covers prevention and vaccination, not symptom triage. For urgent medical help, call 000.
healthdirect — COVID-19
healthdirect guide to COVID-19 vaccination, testing and symptoms.
Important: For urgent medical help, call 000. For advice from a registered nurse, use the healthdirect helpline.
Vaccination
Ask your GP, pharmacist or Aboriginal Medical Service which vaccines and timing suit you. Eligibility for free vaccines changes, so check the official pages below rather than a copy here.
Australian Government — influenza (flu) vaccine
Australian Government Department of Health information on yearly flu vaccination, who is recommended to be vaccinated and which groups can get it free under the National Immunisation Program.
Open official resource — Australian Government — influenza (flu) vaccine ↗Australian Government — COVID-19 vaccine
Australian Government Department of Health information on COVID-19 vaccines, including free vaccine eligibility under the National Immunisation Program.
Open official resource — Australian Government — COVID-19 vaccine ↗NSW Health — immunisation programs
NSW Health index to vaccination information by age and situation, including pregnancy, childhood, adult and older-adult programs, and flu, RSV, COVID-19 and travel vaccines.
Open official resource — NSW Health — immunisation programs ↗Outbreaks and public health
NSW Health — infectious diseases
NSW Health hub for infectious diseases: fact sheets, an A–Z of diseases, the weekly respiratory update, and outbreak alerts and guidance.
Open official resource — NSW Health — infectious diseases ↗NSW Public Health Units
1300 066 055Calling this number connects you automatically to your local NSW Health Public Health Unit. The source page also lists a Public Health Unit directory.
Important: Not an emergency or clinical advice line. The source does not state hours or whether the number is intended for the public or for clinicians. For personal health advice, call healthdirect or see a GP; for urgent medical help, call 000.
For H5 bird flu, which is an animal-disease issue, use Bird flu & biosecurity.
Old numbers and current status
The former National Coronavirus Helpline (1800 020 080) is no longer in service, but it still appears on older printed material and some websites. Use the healthdirect helpline or your GP instead.
This directory deliberately does not reproduce case numbers, outbreak totals, testing or antiviral eligibility, or public health orders. If a new outbreak or pandemic response is announced, follow NSW Health and Australian Government directions.