MDHB News

Don't let the Flu get you!

The immunisation programme for seasonal influenza is underway and vaccines are available from your healthcare professional. Your employer may organise the flu vaccine to be available in your workplace. The seasonal flu vaccine will protect you against the flu.

Medical Professionals at MidCentral DHB.

This year the influenza vaccine is free for the following groups to ensure we protect those people most at risk of serious influenza illness:

All people aged 6mths-65yrs with ongoing serious medical conditions
Pregnant women
All people over the age of 65yrs

Your health professional can provide you with all the information you need to know about influenza vaccination. Flu vaccination is one of the best ways to protect yourself and your family against influenza infection.

Signs and symptoms of influenza

Signs and symptoms of influenza include fever, cough, sore throat, stuffy nose, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue. Some people also experience diarrhoea and vomiting. Sick people should stay home until they are well, rather than going to school or work.

What to do if you are sick, or caring for someone who is sick?

Check out this brochure: Managing in the Home it has great information about how to protect yourself and care for your family with the flu.

Try to avoid contact with sick people and reduce time spent in crowded settings. If you become sick, stay home for seven days after your symptoms begin or until you have been symptom-free for 24 hours, whichever is longer. This is to keep you from infecting others. Most people will be able to safely recover at home.

If your condition worsens, you should seek medical advice by phoning Healthline 0800 611 116 or your GP. This is particularly important for people with underlying medical conditions who are at greater risk of developing complications from influenza. If you think you have the flu, it is best to ring the hospital or medical centre first for advice. This way, if you need to come in to the centre, arrangements can be made that decrease the risk of spreading infection to others.

If you are caring for someone with the flu, watch for signs that they may need further medical attention, including: difficulty breathing, chest pain, blueness around the lips, inability to keep fluids down, becoming less alert or developing confusion. More information can be found at the Ministry of Health Website.

General readiness

Be prepared - this is the time for people to make sure they’re prepared to be self-sufficient for an extended period of time, should they need to. This means you should have enough food, water and basic medical supplies including paracetamol or ibuprofen, as well as regular medications, nappies for babies, cleaning products, tissues and bathroom supplies for at least a week.

How to protect yourself from influenza

Hand hygiene is still the single most effective measure in protecting yourself. Wash your hands with soap and water and dry them thoroughly.
Alcohol-based cleaners are also effective.
Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth as germs spread this way.

Practise good cough and sneeze etiquette. This means covering your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze, and disposing of the tissue in a lined rubbish bin with a lid or plastic bag, followed by hand hygiene.

Checklists and advice on how individuals and families can prepare for a pandemic are available on the Ministry of Health's dedicated flu web pages.