Pre-season readiness advised for flu prevention
By Tim O?Connell
This year?s influenza shot has been touted as a potent vaccine, but local medical practitioners are urging Wellingtonians to take care in order to avoid getting it. As the country moves into winter and the increased chance of contracting influenza, the message from health providers is clear-get yourself sorted before the cold weather sets in. Local Practice Manager Lynne Alo said last week that the 2009 influenza vaccine had been prepared in response to a large outbreak of flu in the area in 2008. ?The vaccine is made up to cope with the most prevalent strain of influenza at the time, so last year?s outbreak was what it had to go on,? she said. While people had become a lot more aware of the need to protect themselves and their loved ones against influenza during winter, Ms Alo said the usual trend of getting immunised only when the colder weather hits is once again apparent. ?We?re getting the normal flow of people through as we did last year, but we?re expecting another surge of people coming through our doors around May or June.? Ms Alo stressed the importance of getting immunised early, particularly for the elderly who were more susceptible to secondary conditions such as respiratory illness and infection. While keeping warm helped to stave off the flu, Ms Alo added that the fact that influenza was easily transmitted meant that keeping germs to ourselves was vital to stopping the spread of the dreaded bug over the coming months. ?It?s quite common for people to confuse influenza with a cold, but it is in fact a virus. ?People need to be careful when they use tissues as well as remembering to put their hands ? simple, commonsense things, really,? she said.
