Day in and day out, I have a conversation with my patients about their health and one of those important conversations is about vaccination.
It's a very important conversation since for older people respiratory illness, it's not just uncomfortable, they're actually dangerous.
It's also recommended that you keep your vaccination up to date and the winter peak season in Australia can extend until September, so it's never too late to get vaccinated.
One of the most common misconceptions about respiratory viruses and vaccinations is that you only need to get vaccinated once in a lifetime to be fully protected. Viruses tend to morph and change every year, and the new vaccine that comes out every year protects you from the new virus.
Respiratory illnesses could include flu, COVID-19 and RSV. What might mean a week in bed for a younger person could mean hospitalisation, pneumonia, or even worse, for someone who's over 65.
It's recommended that you get your flu vaccine every year for anyone.
And for COVID-19, if you are 65 and over, it's recommended that you get your vaccine every year.
Or if you are 75 and over, it's recommended that you get your vaccine every six months.
RSV vaccine is a one-off vaccine and gives you protection for two years.
For more information, ask your pharmacist or GP or go to health.gov.au.