RIVERLANDERS are being encouraged to contact their immunisation provider to book a flu shot amidst the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
Renmark Medical Clinic partner Dr Paul Smith said the clinic was taking extra precautions when administering vaccines to adhere to social distancing restrictions and minimise the risk of transmission.
“We’re trying to socially distance people… and we are wearing our own personal protective equipment mainly to protect us and protect other people, particularly because it is possible you can transmit the virus before you have symptoms,” he said.
“We’re running the clinic outside, we have certain distances between people, we are taking people’s temperatures before we do it and checking that they are okay.”
Dr Smith said demand for vaccinations had not been impacted by social distancing concerns, with almost 1000 immunisations in the first week of clinics.
“We’ve had a few people who haven’t had flu shots before this year,” he said.
“I think they are understanding that with COVID-19 around you don’t want to have the flu and COVID-19 – one’s
bad enough.
“We’re telling them when they ring that we are going to be doing this so that they can be confident that they’ll be here not close to anyone, have the injection and then go again.”
Premier Steven Marshall said 233,000 doses of the influenza vaccine had been distributed in the first two weeks of the rollout, which would help minimise the impact of coronavirus on South Australians.
“This year more than any other it is very important that vulnerable South Australians take advantage of the free flu vaccination this year,” he said.
“While the flu vaccine will not stop someone contracting COVID-19, it will reduce the likelihood of vulnerable individuals succumbing to the coronavirus.”
Through the National Immunisation Program (NIP), flu vaccines are free for people aged over 65, pregnant women, children aged six months to less than five years of age, all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged over six months, and people with medical conditions that predispose them to complications from the flu.
Adults and children who are homeless are now eligible to receive flu shots under a new State-funded program.
The Department for Health and Wellbeing’s Communicable Disease and Control Branch Director, Dr Louise Flood, said there was “unprecedented demand last year for the flu vaccine after a high number of cases were reported earlier in the season”.
“I would like to reassure everyone that there will be enough doses through the NIP and State-funded programs to protect South Australians at risk and I encourage everyone who is not eligible for a free vaccine to talk to their own immunisation providers about getting the vaccine,” she said.
“As the flu season peaks through June to September around Australia, it’s recommended that people start getting vaccinated in April.”
As of April 6, there have been 1447 cases of the flu notified to the Communicable Disease and Control Branch this year, compared to 4533 at the same time last year.
To book in for a flu shot, contact your local health service or eligible pharmacy.