Pittman’s plea on flu jab

AUSTRALIAN Olympianturned-doctor Jana Pittman suffered the devastating loss of her grandmother to the flu and is now fronting a new campaign urging Australians to get the jab.

The gold medallist gave birth to twins last week and has revealed how she blames herself for also infecting her own mother with the virus in 2020.

“Several years ago, we lost my grandmother to influenza and in 2020, during my final year at medical school, I caught influenza and unfortunately passed the infection to my mum,” Dr Pittman said.

It was the first time in eight years she hadn’t had the flu shot – “with everything going on, it just slipped my mind”.

Despite years of medical training, Dr Pittman said she underestimated just how sick she would feel with the flu.

“I’ve had the common cold plenty of times, but having influenza was very different. It was incredibly scary, and I was close to being admitted to hospital,” she said.

“Mum was very sick and to this day has an underlying cough due to the damage it did to her lungs.”

Flu shots are now available and if you haven’t had your Covid booster jab you can get both the flu shot and the Covid jab at the same time. Australians aged over 65 become eligible for a fourth Covid booster from Monday and could also ask to have both shots at the one appointment.

University of Sydney infectious diseases paediatrician Professor Robert Booy said having two shots at once “seems to be very well tolerated” and warned that the flu posed a real danger to kids.

“Under five, you’re probably at more risk from flu than Covid,” Professor Booy said.

Immunisation Foundation of Australia director Catherine Hughes is also urging Australian parents to get their young children vaccinated against the flu.

“Many people don’t realise that influenza hospitalises more young Australian kids than any other vaccine-preventable disease,” Ms Hughes said. “I’ve connected with a number of families who have lost babies, children and loved ones to influenza, and in most cases they haven’t been vaccinated. Their stories are heartbreaking.”

The foundation’s “Don’t Forget Influenza!” campaign will help remind people about the seriousness of influenza and the importance of getting protected against it, Ms Hughes said.