This announcement follows updated advice from the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation, that immunisation (for influenza) could be co-administered with a COVID-19 booster vaccination.
Rochester TerryWhite Chemmart pharmacist Brett Phillips says locals are more than welcome to book both of their vaccines at the pharmacy.
“We recommend people start thinking about their flu vaccines in April,” he said.
“Last year because the COVID vaccines were quite new, there was no experience in giving them and flu vaccines together, so for safety they had a rule to separate them, but now that advice has changed and there’s new evidence that you can have both at the same time.”
Mr Phillips has echoed national health experts’ warnings that we could see a potential surge in influenza this winter alongside existing COVID-19 concerns, following the re-emergence of the flu in several countries in the northern hemisphere.
“In COVID times, people have perhaps forgotten about the flu, and it’s still a serious illness,” Mr Phillips said.
“We’ve had a couple of years with no flu, because nobody has travelled and we’ve all had masks on and stayed home, so it’s expected that we’re due for a bad flu season.
“This will be a particularly important year to have a flu vaccine, because you could be in the unlucky position where you have the flu and COVID at the same time, which would be quite serious.
“We’re happy to do both vaccines here, and people can come and talk to us about it, we’re happy to help.”
To book a flu or COVID-19 vaccination, or both, contact the Rochester TerryWhite Chemmart pharmacy on 5484 1025.
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