Yahoo Finance ‘Necessary’: The $15 health investment you need this winter
As federal governments urge Australians to stay home this Easter to contain the number of new Covid-19 cases, doctors are urging Australians to get the flu shot this year in to safeguard their health.
According to Australian Medical Association (AMA) president and doctor Tony Bartone, the one-time needle shot will significantly minimise the possibility of contracting both the flu and the coronavirus at the same time, as well as ease the burden on hospitals in coming months.
“People who get the influenza vaccine now will be better protected from the serious prospect of having both Covid-19 and influenza at the same time,” Bartone said.
“The influenza virus changes each year, which is another reason yearly administration of the latest season’s new four-strain vaccine is necessary.”
Getting vaccinated could mean side-stepping a trip to hospitals that are already in overdrive dealing with the coronavirus crisis, he added.
“Not only will you avoid as much as a week or more of significant illness including fever, aches, muscle pains, feeling extremely unwell, and needing time off work – you will also avoid having to seek care in the middle of one of the most critical health crises in living memory.”
The fact that millions of Australians are now working from home might also result in less vaccinated people unless they proactively take action, Bartone said.
“With so many hundreds of thousands of Australians currently laid off from their jobs, the opportunity for workplace immunisations will be drastically reduced,” he said.
“This ultimately means that more Australians than ever will potentially be not immunised at the start of another influenza season.
“This could prove deadly for our community as a whole, but especially for the most vulnerable.
“The message is simple: get your flu vaccine now.”
The flu alone causes more than 3,000 deaths in Australia per year, and hospitalises 18,000 people.
How much does the flu shot cost?
The cost of the flu shot can vary depending on where you are getting vaccinated, ranging between $15 to $40.
Under the National Immunisation Program (NIP), the following people are eligible for a free flu shot:
People aged 65 and older
Pregnant women
All Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 6 months or over
People aged 6 months and older with medical conditions (such as heart disease, diabetes, chronic lung conditions, impared immunity, etc) that put them at risk of complications from the flu
Children 6 months to 5 years old.
Where can I get a flu shot?
You can book an appointment with your regular or local GP to get vaccinated.
You can also visit pharmacies such as Priceline or Chemist Warehouse to be vaccinated.
The flu shot is $14.99 at Chemist Warehouse, which protects you against four different strains of viruses.
You’ll cop $19.99 if you are getting the flu shot from Priceline.
However, don’t expect to just stroll in this winter for your vaccine: you will most likely need to book an appointment for the vaccine.
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