Cherbourg residents have taken up the challenge and decided to tackle the flu head on.
About 120 residents attended the Darling Downs Public Health Unit’s one-day flu clinic last week to receive their free, seasonal influenza vaccination, taking the number of indigenous people vaccinated in this year’s anti-flu campaign to more than 500.
It is a marked increase on the number of people who attended the same clinic at Cherbourg last year.
“Just 12 people in Cherbourg received their free vaccination last year through the Tackle Flu Before It Tackles You program,” DDPHU director Doctor Penny Hutchinson said.
“We were pleased to see so many people turn out this year to receive their vaccinations.
“The local health service promoted our visit which helped spread the message about the importance of vaccinating against the potentially serious flu virus.”
Residents also received a free T-shirt that featured Indigenous designs, and the chance to win an NRL jersey of their choice.
“Everyone who received their flu vaccination during the Tackle Flu Before It Tackles You clinic in Cherbourg will go into the draw to win an official, Indigenous NRL jersey,” Dr Hutchinson said.
“The competition will be drawn at the end of the May.”
The Tackle Flu Before It Tackles You program is now in its fourth year.
Initially organisers had hoped to vaccinate 500 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people during the 2014 two-month campaign.
“In just the first three weeks, nurses and health-care workers have vaccinated 535 Indigenous people,” Dr Hutchinson said.
“It is a great response. The message that the flu is a highly contagious and potentially serious disease is being taken up by the community.
“Unfortunately, however, many people still incorrectly believe they are too healthy to get the flu or that the flu shot can lead to sickness.
“By getting the flu shot, you are not only protecting yourself from sickness, you are also protecting your friends, family and others around you.”
Free influenza vaccinations are federally funded for people who are deemed “at risk”.
This includes Indigenous people aged over 15 years, pregnant women, people aged over 65 years and people aged over six months who have a chronic medical condition.
“This year, free vaccinations will also be provided to people who have Downs Syndrome, who are obese (a body mass index greater than 30) and people who drink heavily,” Dr Hutchinson said.
Cherbourg residents over the aged of 15 years can still access their flu vaccination through the Cherbourg Community Health Service.
