PRIMOhealth
Hot shot
To avoid the winter snuffles - and worse - this year, consider protecting the family with a flu shot. You'll be doing the whole community a favour
It's the time of year when everybody seems to be carrying more than their fair share of tissues and decongestant. It's flu season but you don't need to succumb and hide under the doona at the first sign of a cold snap. Young Perth Mum Gemma Rule had never had a flu shot, but chose to do so
when she was 35 weeks pregnant with her second baby this year. Gemma visited the doctor with her two and a half year old daughter Indiana who was suffering from severe croup. It was then the GP suggested the mum-to-be should have the influenza vaccine. “I hadn’t considered having the flu vaccine before as I had always been pretty good at avoiding colds and flu. But when the doctor explained that it would protect me and the baby once it was born, then I didn't hesitate,” Gemma said. “With winter coming and me breastfeeding, I know I will be tired and a bit rundown. “With a new baby and a toddler, it’s important that I can do what I can to avoid getting sick. “Knowing the baby would be protected too, it just made sense.” Influenza is just one of a number of winter viruses that cause coughs and colds,
but it is the most severe. The World Health Organisation singles out pregnant women as the most important risk group for seasonal influenza vaccine and WA Health is encouraging more pregnant women to take advantage of the free influenza vaccine to protect themselves and their baby. Free influenza vaccine has been available for pregnant Australians since 2009 but uptake has been poor. Although vaccination rates are improving, in 2013 only 41 per cent of pregnant women in WA had the influenza vaccine. A survey of pregnant women in Western Australia last year showed those who were not vaccinated would have had a flu shot had their antenatal carer recommended it. “Knowing the vaccine is safe is an important consideration for pregnant mothers. “Not surprisingly, uptake is higher among women who believe the vaccine is