Health experts urgently call for a collaborative approach to care to combat high and early uptick in flu and other respiratory viruses
Coined the ‘triple threat virus’[i], a new mix of illnesses is expected to hit our shores this winter[ii], as the combination of flu, COVID-19 and RSV created some of the worst flu seasons on record in the Northern Hemisphere, conditions which proved especially dangerous for children and at-risk adults[iii].
With over a quarter of a million flu cases recorded last year[iv] and the virus set to take centre stage earlier this year, health experts worry what this crisis will mean for the season. This also includes people’s ability to get vaccinated in time, in order to protect themselves and their families against the looming triple virus threat.
In response, one of Australia’s leading medical experts, Dr Nick Coatsworth and Chief Pharmacist at TerryWhite Chemmart, Brenton Hart are joining forces to promote a collaborative approach to care this winter, and encourage people to also consider getting vaccinated in a local pharmacy, particularly for influenza and COVID-19.
Dr Nick Coatsworth said that although healthcare providers are ready for an early flu season, accessibility and convenience to get vaccinated is a major concern.
“There is a triple threat this year with the combination of flu, COVID-19 and RSV, and the urgency for early protection is real, but as GPs and hospitals across the country stretch their capacity to record levels, the demand is only going to worsen if we all get sick,” Dr Coatsworth said.
“Many will still rely on their GPs to get vaccinated, but this may become problematic with already overstretched GP clinics and extended waiting times to see a doctor potentially putting people’s lives at risk.
“GPs play a critical role in our national healthcare system, and it’s important that we support them during this crisis by considering simple and effective ways to ease their burdens, without compromising patient care.
“One way we can do that is by taking a collaborative approach, working with our pharmacist colleagues to deliver key services, and that is especially true for flu and COVID-19 vaccinations.”.
These calls follow the release of economic analysis from global accounting firm EY, which found that a more collaborative approach to care by GPs and pharmacists could help reduce GP visits by 6.2 million a year; slash hospital stays by more than 350,000 days a year, and free up 52,000 hours in Emergency Department capacity annually[v].
Furthermore, TerryWhite Chemmart Chief Pharmacist Brenton Hart said the vaccination service provided by pharmacists forms part of this approach and is a sensible solution, especially after seeing the lifesaving benefits that resulted from pharmacy vaccination during the pandemic.
“GPs and pharmacists alike are all responsible for the health of their communities, and we know that when we work hand-in-hand we can deliver a more holistic approach and make getting the healthcare you need more accessible,” Hart said.
“Community Pharmacists have been vaccinating for eight years, steadily growing to the point that at TerryWhite Chemmart we have administered over two million vaccinations in the last two years.”
Brenton Hart also adds that while people might be experiencing vaccine fatigue, we also can’t forget that many carry the influenza virus unknowingly and is an incredibly infectious and serious respiratory disease that may be fatal[vi]. But, with vaccination you can protect yourself from getting sick.
“As we have seen with asymptomatic cases of COVID-19, people can unknowingly have the flu and gravely affect our most vulnerable. The more we suppress influenza through vaccination, the less opportunity the virus has to mutate and infect people,” Hart said.
“Lastly, getting a flu vaccination reduces your odds of getting sick from the flu. If you do, your illness would likely be less severe. A 2018 study[vii] found that flu vaccination among adults reduced the risk of being admitted to an intensive care unit with flu by 59 percent and a 2014 study[viii] showed that flu vaccination reduced children’s risk of flu-related paediatric intensive care unit admission by 74 percent,” Hart concluded.
TerryWhite Chemmart has pharmacies across the nation and is offering flu and COVID-19 vaccination appointments for the whole family with a click of a button. To speak to your local GP, head to terrywhitechemmart.com.au, or speak to your local TerryWhite Chemmart pharmacist.
[i] https://www.paho.org/en/news/16-11-2022-countries-must-be-vigilant-triple-threat-covid-19-influenza-and-rsv-holidays
[ii] https://www1.racgp.org.au/newsgp/clinical/chance-of-early-flu-season-in-2023
[iii] https://www1.racgp.org.au/newsgp/clinical/chance-of-early-flu-season-in-2023
[iv] https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/health/causes-death/provisional-mortality-statistics/jan-jun-2022.
[v] National Immunisation Program vaccinations and non-NIP vaccinations
Source: Pharmacy Guild of Australia, EY
[vi] Flu Tracking (2022). Weekly Report for Influenza-Like Illness as at 1-May-2022. https://info.flutracking.net/reports-2/australia-reports/
[vii] https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0264410X18309976?via%3Dihub
[viii] https://academic.oup.com/jid/article/210/5/674/2908613
Text by: TerryWhite Chemmart
