With ‘flu season’ fast approaching for 2023, ProCare
welcomes the announcement from Pharmac to extend funding for
a second consecutive flu season to include tamariki aged 6
months to 12 years and Māori and Pacific people aged 55-64
years old.
Bindi Norwell, Chief Executive at ProCare
says: “It’s been a tough start to the year for many with
the floods, cyclone Gabrielle and the uplift in covid cases.
Preventing whānau from getting sick with the flu will help
ensure children can attend as many school days as possible
throughout winter, will help keep parents at work and
ultimately take away some of the stress of juggling sick
family members during the winter period.
“A simple
flu vaccine can give you some peace of mind going into
winter that you are protected and will also help to ease
some of the pressures on an already stretched health sector
so we can continue to deliver care for those who need it,”
continues Norwell.
Dr Allan Moffitt, Clinical Director
at ProCare, says: “Influenza can spread quickly and easily
through children, particularly when they’re in classrooms
with closed doors in the cooler weather. Offering free flu
vaccines for tamariki not only protects them, but also
protects their wider whānau against what can be a serious
illness.
“Funding these priority populations to
receive a free flu vaccine means that approximately 835,000
children, including 370,000 who are of Māori or Pacific
ethnicity, will benefit from this,” he
continues.
“General practices across Aotearoa have
been preparing for the flu season for some weeks now and
will be able to start vaccinating patients from 1 April. We
really encourage our communities to protect themselves and
their whānau against the flu, particularly those with
diabetes, asthma, other respiratory issues such as COPD,
cardiovascular issues or if they are currently pregnant,”
concludes Dr
Moffitt.
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