Stay Well this Winter

Influenza, commonly known as the flu, is a highly contagious disease caused by the influenza virus. The flu can be serious for everyone – but for older adults, the risk of flu-related complications and hospitalisation is particularly high.

Immune systems decline as adults age. Older adults are at higher risk of serious flu and flu-related complications including pneumonia and hospitalisation. The flu can affect people of all ages and is spread from an infected person to someone else through touching, coughing, and sneezing.

This year we’re more vulnerable to getting the flu due to lower recent exposure to the virus and fewer people vaccinating. With places opening back up and the Gold Coast community wanting to get outdoors, it is important to protect ourselves and each other this flu season.

Annual influenza vaccination is recommended to help prevent flu and flu-related complications. Even people who are relatively healthy and who rarely get sick are advised to get vaccinated. If you don’t catch influenza, you can’t pass it on to others.

The influenza vaccine is free for anyone over the age of 65 years and you can receive the influenza vaccine and COVID-19 vaccine at the same time, if required.

Along with vaccination, practising good hand and respiratory hygiene is your best defence against the spread of the flu.

To protect yourself and those around you here are 7 easy steps to help fight the flu:

• Get a flu shot every year
• If you are unwell, stay at home and avoid contact with others
• Wash your hands often and properly with soap and water, or use an alcohol-based hand sanitiser
• Cover your cough and sneezes with a tissue or a flexed elbow. Throw your tissues away immediately and wash your hands afterwards
• Try to stay 1.5 metres away from anyone who coughs and sneezes
• Clean frequently touched surfaces regularly with soap and water or detergent
• Don’t share items such as cups, glasses, cutlery, lip balm, toys or anything which has come into contact with the mouth or nose.

The flu vaccine is the best way to protect yourself and your friends and family.

Book a flu vaccine:

• With a GP
• At a pharmacy 
• At a Kalwun clinic (Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Peoples)