Stay well this winter

Stay well this winter

Influenza (the flu) and COVID-19 circulate all year round, but winter is particularly bad for the spread of illness.

You can help yourself stay well by:

• getting your flu and COVID-19 vaccination as soon as possible
• keeping 1.5 metre distance between yourself and other people
• washing or sanitising your hands often
• coughing or sneezing into your elbow
• testing for COVID or flu with a RAT if you are feeling unwell
• wearing a face mask if you have symptoms
• ensuring there is good ventilation
• staying home if you are sick.

Doing this will help keep you and your friends, family and community well.

What you need to know

• Yearly flu vaccination is recommended for everyone aged 6 months and over.
• COVID-19 booster doses are available every 12 months for people aged 18 years and older.
• Adults 65 years and over, and people aged 18 to 64 years who are severely immunocompromised, are eligible to receive a COVID-19 booster dose every 6 months.
• You can get your flu and COVID-19 vaccination at the same time.
• You can get your flu and COVID-19 vaccination from your doctor (GP) or your local pharmacist. Pharmacists can administer the flu and COVID-19 vaccines to anyone aged 5 years and over.
• Most people can safely recover from the flu and COVID-19 at home.
• See your doctor to talk about the best care for you if you get COVID-19 or the flu this winter. This will help you get the right care, if and when you need it. Some people are eligible for prescription medicines that can reduce health complications and the need for hospitalisation with COVID-19 or the flu, if taken soon after symptoms appear. Find out more from your doctor.
• Your doctor is the best person to help you if you are unwell.

Flu vaccinations

To help you stay well this winter, free flu vaccinations are available for eligible priority groups.

These priority groups include:

• children aged 6 months to 5 years
• people aged 65 years old and over
• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 6 months and over
• pregnant women – at any stage of pregnancy
• people aged 6 months and older with medical conditions putting them at increased risk of severe flu and its complications.

Children need special protection from the flu, especially babies and toddlers. The flu vaccine is just as important as other routine childhood vaccines and will protect them against the most common strains of the flu.

You can receive your flu vaccine at the same time as other vaccines.

Find out more information about flu vaccinations online or speak with your doctor. If you need an interpreter, call TIS National on Tel. 131 450.

COVID vaccinations

Keeping your COVID-19 vaccinations up to date is important to stay well this winter:

• All adults are eligible for a booster dose every 12 months.
• Adults 65 years and over, and people aged 18 to 64 years who are severely immunocompromised, are eligible to receive a booster dose every 6 months.
• Children aged 5 to 17 years who are severely immunocompromised are eligible for a booster dose every 12 months.
• Teenagers and children who are in good health do not need a booster dose in 2024, due to the low incidence of severe illness and high level of hybrid immunity amongst this group.

Get your next dose at your local pharmacy or GP. Find one near you using the Vaccine Clinic Finder.