The cooler weather is now upon us and so to is the flu season. Dr. Phillipa Binns joined me to discuss the best ways to protect ourselves from the flu. The flu vaccine is one of the best ways to keep us safe from the virus and is it’s free under the Australian governments nation immunisation program for those at the greatest risk of complications.
Getting pneumonia is one of the most dangerous complications of the flu virus. Many people think they are healthy enough and think they do not need to get vaccinated. However, if you have close contact with vulnerable people maybe you should think again. The elderly, the sick, pregnant women, babies and those with severe asthma can all be helped by those around them getting vaccinated.
Other important and easy things to do include:
- Cover a cough or sneeze with a tissue or your arm, not with your hand.
- Wash hands as soon as possible after sneezing or coughing.
- Wipe down all frequently touched surfaces regularly with a cleaning cloth dampened with detergent, or a large alcohol wipe.
- Keep people with flu away from childcare, preschool, school and work.
Listen in to our discussion about the flu and how to protect yourself:
For more information on which vaccination you need visit http://www.nps.org.au NPS Medicines line 1300 633 424