FLU SHOT: The Tribune’s Oliver Watson gets his flu shot yesterday from Dr Ray Burn at Old Linton Medical Practice.
Yass hasn’t been immune to the spike in influenza cases hitting NSW at the moment.
Statistics from NSW Health say the number of cases is much higher than in the past two years.
Dr Ray Burn from Old Linton Medical Practice said there were a lot of people presenting with flu symptoms and he said it was aggravated by the cold weather.
“When you find it’s minus six in the morning it does have an effect,” Dr Burn said.
He said people weren’t resting when they should and needed to keep warm and go to bed.
“They should go to bed and take Panadol and maybe a little bit of liquor,” he said.
He said if people didn’t look after themselves they end up staying sick for longer and hold onto the viral cough that comes with the flu.
No one had presented at the hospital with severe flu symptoms but nurse manager Liz Darmody said a severe cold had been through the staff at the hospital.
She said thankfully they had all had the flu shot and anyone that was sick had just been staying at home.
“If they have got it please don’t go shopping at the supermarket and spread it all around,” Ms Darmody said.
The nurse manager also wanted to reinforce the importance of washing your hands and to cough into the crook of your elbow, not into your hands.
Yass pharmacist Andrew Douglas also emphasised the importance of hygiene.
He said there was always a spike in cold and flu cases this time of year and said taking vitamins might ward off the flu.
Carolyn Blakely from Dr Burn’s office wanted to let people know it wasn’t too late to have a flu vaccination.
She said there was still half of winter left and that meant the needle would stop the flu from spreading, with the surgery bulk billing the vaccination.
NSW Health is urging people, especially pregnant women, parents of young children and the elderly to get vaccinated against the flu.
Each year the influenza vaccine contains three different strains of influenza, this year they are ‘H1N1 California’, ‘H3N2 Perth’ and an influenza B strain called ‘Brisbane’.
