Tasmanians urged to get vaccinated against respiratory illnesses as winter approaches

The Covid pandemic might feel like it happened decades ago, but the disease is still present in the community. Why authorities are encouraging people to roll up their sleeves.

FILE – A healthcare worker fills a syringe with the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine at Jackson Memorial Hospital on Oct. 5, 2021, in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky, File)

Tasmanians have been urged to roll up their sleeves and get vaccinated in the lead-up to winter.

The colder months are typically when case numbers for respiratory illnesses such as COVID-19, the flu and RSV increase.

Mental Health and Wellbeing Minister Roger Jaensch got his vaccinations done on Friday at Complete Care Pharmacy Rosny Park.

“As we enter the colder months, we can expect increases in respiratory infections in the community, so it’s important to act now to protect yourself and your family,” Mr Jaensch said.

“The best thing you can do to prepare is to be up to date with vaccination.

“This is the best defence against serious illness from influenza, RSV, COVID-19 and whooping cough.

“I also encourage Tasmanians to keep up the simple behaviours that help minimise the risk of catching and spreading infections.

“These include staying home if you are unwell, regularly washing or sanitising your hands, and covering your coughs and sneezes.”

Mental Health and Wellbeing Minister Roger Jaensch getting vaccinated. Picture: Simon McGuire

Public Health Specialist Medical Adviser Shannon Melody said Covid was currently under control in the Tasmanian community.

“Covid activity at the moment is currently low, and we’ve seen a decline in recent months,” Dr Melody said.

“However, we will see waves of activity through as new omicron subvariants emerge, which is why it is important to keep that immunity up to date.”

Dr Melody said Covid was still a serious condition, particularly for older people.

“Which is why it’s really important to keep up vaccination alongside flu and RSV in particular.

“These are vaccine-preventable diseases, and we’re really fortunate that there are vaccines in the toolkit to prevent serious outcomes like requiring a hospital admission or even death.”

Specialist Medical Adviser Dr Shannon Melody during the Covid- 19 vaccine update. Picture Chris Kidd

Pharmacy Guild of Australia Tasmania Branch President Joe O’Malley said that Covid cases had dropped rapidly in the last few years.

“From April 2022 to April 2023, we had like a drop of 95 per cent in the presentations,” Mr O’Malley said.

“Those two years where the numbers were very high, there was a heightened awareness around notification and reporting – which probably isn’t quite the same.”

Mr O’Malley said that pandemic fatigue had crept into the community.

“The recommendation is that you get a Covid booster every 12 months – but if you want to get one every six months, that’s allowed.

“There’s a lot of people that we’ve seen over the last three or four weeks that have been well outside 12 months from having a booster that are now saying ‘Covid is still there, there’s a risk there.’”

The public was also encouraged to use services such as Care@home if they fall unwell.

Originally published as Tasmanians urged to get vaccinated against respiratory illnesses as winter approaches