Why the flu shot is important
EVERY year, Australians are hit with a unified chorus of advice from health officials, government, and frontline healthcare providers of all stripes to, “Get your flu shot!”
It’s always good advice. But this year it’s especially important.
As we battle to contain the coronavirus pandemic, we need as many Australians as possible getting their flu vaccination. This will help boost herd immunity and reduce the risk of having a bad flu season.
With our health system already being tested and gearing up to manage the pressure of fighting COVID-19 this winter, every Australian needs to do what they can now, to help alleviate the strain.
Amid the COVID-19 crisis, we commemorated Anzac Day at the weekend. There is perhaps not a timelier reminder of one of the most integral Anzac values – looking out for your mates. Looking out for your mates this year, means getting your flu vaccine to help boost our nation’s immunity, so together we can all help the fight against COVID-19.
While being vaccinated against the flu won’t protect you directly against COVID-19, it is critical to protecting the general health of all Australians. Both influenza and COVID-19 cause serious respiratory illness. The combination of both diseases can be lifethreatening, especially for vulnerable people, making a flu vaccination that much more important in 2020.
To help protect Australians this year, Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt has overseen the acquisition of an additional three million flu vaccines. This is a huge win for Australians and another welcomed measure implemented by the Federal Government in responding to the current health crisis.
Community pharmacists are Australia’s most accessible healthcare professionals.
And thanks to the affordability and convenience of an appointment with a community pharmacist, more than two million Australians were vaccinated by one last year. This year, we’re expecting that number to increase significantly.
To further help boost the number of people being vaccinated against the flu, children aged 10 and over can now get their immunisations with the rest of the family at their local community pharmacy. But there is still more we could be doing to boost vaccination numbers and herd immunity.
In Victoria, Western Australia, and the ACT, pharmacists can give flu vaccinations through the National Immunisation Program (NIP), meaning older Australians, and other vulnerable groups, can get their flu vaccine from the healthcare professional of their choice.
Extending NIP access to pharmacists here in Queensland is an easy way to boost herd immunity and fight COVID-19.
And while some GPs have moved to telehealth consultations, flu vaccines remain in closed surgeries.
Where there are stocks of flu vaccines sitting in unattended GP clinics, they need to be redistributed to where vaccinations are still occurring, like pharmacies.
Don’t delay, we need to look after each other. Getting your flu vaccine will help protect you, your family and friends and your fellow Aussies. Together we can help protect each other this winter.
AS WE BATTLE TO CONTAIN THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC, WE NEED AS MANY AUSTRALIANS AS POSSIBLE GETTING THEIR FLU VACCINATION