Professor Paul Griffin get your Flu Shots

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Four days into winter, and I'm just looking at my
proof of vaccinations on Medicare. I'm up to date with
the flu shots, but my COVID shots, well, I haven't
had one of those for a couple of years. Joining
us now as Professor Paul Griffin, Head of Infectious Diseases.
Good morning, professor, how are you?

Speaker 2 (00:16):
Yeah? Good, thank you, thanks for having me our pleasure.

Speaker 1 (00:18):
Now, like a lot of people, I'd say I haven't
had COVID shots for a while. What's the latest on
flu shots and covid shots?

Speaker 2 (00:24):
Yeah? Look, well now I'm getting the flu vaccine. We've
seen uptake of that be a little bit poor in
a record breaking year already with flu, so certainly is
a good idea to be protected against that. And you know,
as we expect it and should come as no surprise,
covid is on the rise again. There's another new subvariant,
NB one eighth one and for most people that don't
need to worry about their details. Just to highlight the
importance of having a relatively recent vaccine for that as well.

(00:47):
And you know, we've moved past counting dose as so
many people had three or four and think that was it,
but really it's just something we need to do regularly,
and so most people it's probably every year or two.
For really high risk people it could be as often
as every six months. But you know, it's hard to
keep up these days. So if you if you're not sure,
have a chat to your GP or pharmacist and you
can get your film COVID vaccines at the same time.

(01:09):
So if you haven't had those, now are certain of
the time to get them.

Speaker 1 (01:12):
A lot of people obviously back in COVID we're worried about,
you know, what's in the vaccine for COVID, but have
they refined it over the last few years without you know,
since the end of the COVID erap.

Speaker 2 (01:23):
Yeah, Look, a lot of the discussion about you know,
concerns about what's in it, it really isn't based on
any solid facts. And so you know, to actually get
a vaccine to be able to start in clinical trials,
it has to be manufactured to ridiculously high standards so
that we make sure there's absolutely no chance of there
being anything in there that we don't want, and that
what we do want in there is in there at

(01:43):
the right amounts. And you know, that process only gets
improved as we progress through clinical trials and then you know,
get them out and use them. So we're absolutely confident
we know what's in those vaccines. There's nothing in there
that shouldn't be there, and everything that's in there works
exactly as we thought. And you know, we've only got
one covid option now that either j in one booster,
and you know, it's an incredibly effective vaccine. It works well,

(02:05):
particularly if you've had it in the last sort of
six to twelve months for most people, and you.

Speaker 1 (02:09):
Startally obviously recommend going getting the flu vaccine right absolutely.

Speaker 2 (02:12):
You know, a flu vaccine is recommended for everyone six
months of age and older, and you know it's funded
for the highest risk people federally, but you know, our government,
to their credit, have decided to fund it for everybody,
recognizing just how important it is and wanting to take
away any financial barriers to getting that. Sign it your
covid and flu vaccines for free. And you know, the
flu vaccine works really well, and you know some people

(02:33):
still might get the flu after being vaccinated, but how
sick you get, how long you're unwell, how infectious you are,
all things that that vaccine really helps with and you
know we're seeing lots of people in ploys at hospitals
already with the flu. So the more people will get
protected that the better off will be this winter.

Speaker 1 (02:49):
Professor Paul Griffin, thank you, pleasure, thank you,