*** ONLINE BRIEFING: Tue 5 May 2026, 10:00am AEST *** Last year, over 1700 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?