Health professionals working with vulnerable patients will soon have compulsory flu jabs as part of a NSW government strategy to prevent an influenza epidemic.
NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard on Tuesday said 650 people, including a couple of children, died across the state last year due to the flu.
"We've revisited our whole way of handling the flu situation," he told reporters in Sydney.
"It is best to require medical staff, nurses, doctors, allied health staff, who are working in our most vulnerable hospital wards ... to have the flu shot."
Vulnerable wards included cancer, intensive care and neonatal, Mr Hazzard said.
The move, to be rolled out by June 1, comes as part of the state government's flu strategy, which also includes germ detectors at shopping centres and train stations across Sydney and NSW.
The UV germ detectors will allow people to see how clean their hands are.
The NSW government will spend $22.75 million on immunisation programs in 2017/18, including $3.5 million for free flu shots to children up to five years old.
Mr Hazzard said the influenza strains included in this year's vaccinations had been updated by the World Health Organisation, after admitting last year's flu shots were "not the best".
Other flu prevention tips include coughing and sneezing into your elbow, washing your hands and staying at home when sick.
The flu jab will be available in early April and takes two weeks to be fully effective after immunisation.
