Be a Health Hero and Protect Yourself this Winter

This winter, health professionals are worried that we could see a huge increase in the number of flu and other respiratory illnesses in addition to COVID-19 cases.

Wentworth Healthcare, provider of the Nepean Blue Mountains Primary Health Network (NBMPHN), is urging the community to get vaccinated against the flu and to ensure that their COVID-19 vaccinations are up-to-date, by getting their booster or winter dose before it’s too late.

Lizz Reay, CEO of Wentworth Healthcare said, “Over the last two winters international and state borders have been mostly closed, and last winter we were all in lockdown. In addition, we had mask mandates and social distancing which meant that we didn’t see the usual number of flu cases,” she said.

“Now that we have opened up and are getting back to our normal way of life, we are likely to see an increase in flu and other respiratory illnesses, in addition to COVID-19 infections this winter,” she said.

“To protect yourself and your family, we are urging people to get the flu vaccine as soon possible and to ensure that their COVID-19 vaccinations are up-to-date. This means getting your kids over 5 years vaccinated for COVID-19 if they haven’t been, getting a COVID-19 booster if you are due or getting a COVID-19 winter dose, if you are eligible,” said Ms Reay.

The additional COVID-19 winter dose vaccine, can be given from four months or longer after an eligible person has received their first booster dose, or from four months after a confirmed COVID-19 infection, if this occurred since the person’s first COVID-19 booster dose.

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