Influenza in education and care services
Children are more likely to contract the influenza virus and young children are at increased risk of serious illness and hospitalisation.
Influenza is highly contagious and can be spread to others for 24 hours before symptoms start and up to a week after the start of symptoms. In young children, the infectious period can be longer and up to 10 days.
Schools, boarding schools and early childhood education and care services are high-risk environments for the transmission of influenza due to large numbers of children being in confined spaces for extended periods of time.
To prevent the spread of influenza:
- encourage staff vaccination
- encourage children in education and care to be vaccinated
- promote hand hygiene and cough etiquette
- ensure appropriate exclusion of unwell staff and children from school or childcare.
Vaccination
Annual vaccination is the most effective way of protecting against influenza and its complications and is recommended for any person 6 months of age and older.
Vaccination is strongly recommended for people who work with children in schools and early childhood education and care.
Influenza vaccines are provided free for eligible persons according to the Immunisation Schedule Queensland. Eligible persons include:
- all children aged 6 months to less than 5 years
- pregnant women at any stage of pregnancy
- all people aged 65 and older
- all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people from 6 months of age
- people aged 6 months and older with medical conditions putting them at increased risk of severe influenza and its complications.
The free vaccine is generally available through general practice and other childhood immunisation providers from mid-April.
Influenza and COVID-19
Influenza is not the same illness as COVID-19. There are separate vaccines available to protect individuals against influenza and COVID-19.
For more detailed information about COVID-19 vaccines, go to the Australian Government, Department of Health.
Whilst influenza vaccine will not prevent coronavirus infection it can reduce the severity and spread of influenza, which may make a person more susceptible to other respiratory illnesses like coronavirus.
Both vaccinations are recommended for eligible children and families, staff and visitors entering education and childcare facilities. For those who are eligible, these two vaccines can now be given on the same day (co-administered). For further advice please visit the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) website.
Promote good hygiene
To limit opportunities for contact with the influenza virus:
- promote effective hand hygiene and cough etiquette
- wash hands regularly with soap and water, and dry thoroughly afterwards
- alcohol-based hand rub is effective if hands are not visibly dirty or greasy (should be kept out of reach of children and only used with adult supervision)
- cover coughs and sneezes, preferably with a disposable tissue
- have tissues readily available
- throw used tissues immediately into the bin
- regularly clean classroom facilities: desks, chairs, door handles, taps, computers, equipment etc
- ensure staff, volunteers and children with flu-like symptoms stay at home until symptom-free and seek medical advice regarding their illness.
Communiques from Queensland Health
2024 ARI Communique for Schools and early childhood and care providers (PDF 131 kB)