With the arrival of winter, now is a good time to get your flu vaccination. It is also particularly important to be vaccinated against the flu this year because of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
Influenza is a major cause of illness in Australia and people die of the flu every year. Some years, the prevailing flu strains are much more severe than others, and this is unpredictable. The most important action you can take against flu and its complications is vaccination. If more people are vaccinated, less flu will spread throughout the community.
The flu vaccination will not prevent you from getting infection with the SARS-CoV-2 virus that caused COVID-19, but it will help you avoid influenza and its complications
Minimizing the spread of flu is a good way to reduce strain on the health care system during the pandemic.
What is the flu?
The flu is not the same as a cold. It is a serious disease hat for some people can lead to complications like bronchitis, croup, pneumonia, heart and organ damage, brain damage and death.
Influenza is a viral disease so antibiotics cannot be used to treat it.
Flu symptoms include:
– Runny nose or sneezing
– Cough or sore throat
– Fever and chills
– Headache
– Body aches
– Vomiting and diarrhea (more common in children)
Having the flu is a miserable experience. It will put you out of action and keep you away from work or school for a week or more. Some people are ill for much longer.
Who is most at risk?
Flu is most dangerous to the very old, the very young, and people who are pregnant or have underlying chronic health conditions. Free flu vaccines are available for these vulnerable groups:
– Elderly aged 65 years and over
– Those who are pregnant
– Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders who are over 6 months of age
– Children aged between 6 months and 5 years
– Those living with a chronic condition, including heart disease, coronary artery disease, asthma and COPD, diabetes, kidney disease, multiple sclerosis, epilepsy, HIV, cancer and more.
