Preparing for the 2023 flu season

It may still be summer, but thoughts are already turning to the colder months and the upcoming flu season.

A lot of Cantabrians, including our own Te Whatu Ora kaimahi, were caught out in 2022. After two years of closed borders and no flu cases, last winter saw our health system overwhelmed with influenza as well as RSV and the Omicron COVID-19 variant. It hit our staff, whānau and community extremely hard.

Although the flu vaccination was free for staff and readily available, many people did not get this important protection.

Executive Assistant, Communications and Engagement Project Facilitator Olivia Hampton was one staff member who didn’t get the flu vaccine in 2022.

“Unfortunately, I contracted COVID-19 and it took a few weeks for me to fully recover. During that time, I wasn’t able to get the influenza vaccination and soon after that, I caught the flu as well,” says Olivia.

“Without question, my vaccinated COVID-19 experience, although unpleasant, was much easier than my un-vaccinated flu illness. I became much sicker with the flu, which also lingered longer than my COVID-19 symptoms.”

“I’ll definitely not miss my flu vaccination this year.” Staff flu vaccinations will become available in April. Keep an eye on the daily staff email and Prism for updates on when and how you can receive your vaccination.

Let’s not have a repeat of 2022 and stop the flu, before it stops you!