Caring encouragement for the community to get vaccinated against the flu.
Member for Perth Tim Hammond MP and the Constable Care team have acted to help lift flu immunisation rates by getting their flu vaccination administered by a local community pharmacist.
A recent Pharmacy Guild study showed an alarming 50 per cent of Australians were not planning to be immunised this year, while only 43 per cent were aware they need a flu shot every year to achieve maximum protection against the disease.
Mr Hammond and Constable Care received their flu vaccination at Pharmacy 777 Maylands, highlighting just how easy it is to access this very important health service through community pharmacies.
Pharmacist and co-proprietor Greg Da Rui said having Mr Hammond and Constable Care as flu vaccination patients sends an important message to the community, particularly given the recent survey results of about only half of Australians planning to have a flu shot this year.
“This demonstrates the ease of access to vaccinations through pharmacies, making it that much simpler for anyone to get their flu shot,” Mr Da Rui said.
“Our patients can just come to our pharmacy and organise their protection against this year’s flu strain, it's easy and convenient.
“Last year we saw about 250,000 people being infected with the flu. Around 18,000 Australians are hospitalised due to the flu each year with 3,000 losing their lives. The community needs to remember that when they protect themselves they also help to protect the community by stopping the spread of the virus.”
The pharmacy’s other co-proprietor, pharmacist Storm Meacock said in the time that community pharmacists had been administering the vaccine there had been a high percentage of people being vaccinated for the first time.
"All of our Pharmacists administering the vaccination have undergone special training. This ensures we have the knowledge and skills to both deliver the vaccine safely and effectively, as well as being able to identify and treat any possible side effects,” she said.