Go well this winter.
Winter is an important time to look after our health and we’re encouraging Kiwis to Prepare. Protect. Act Early this winter to look after not only themselves but friends and whānau.
Flu, Covid-19, whooping cough (pertussis), measles and other diseases can be very serious for people who have other health conditions, for young babies and for people who are unvaccinated (see sections on flu pertussis).
Working together we can help prevent the spread of winter illnesses in the Southern region.
Remember to:
- Prepare early for winter by getting vaccinated, which will help you and your whānau stay healthy. Getting vaccinated will help you to avoid illnesses including measles, Covid-19, influenza and whooping cough.
- Protect yourself and your whanau by staying home if sick and you feel you can’t go to work or school. Advice on whether your child is well enough to go to school can be found on the info.health.nz website. If you want to lower your chance of getting sick or spreading germs to others, wear a mask.
- Ask and Act Early – if you or someone in your whanau get sick – hospitals are very busy over winter so unless it is an emergency please use other services. Contact your doctor or health care provider, or pharmacy. If you cannot access a doctor or do not have one, you can call Healthline on 0800 611 611 anytime 24/7 for free advice.
How to stay well this winter
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Take a RAT test if you have cold, flu or COVID-19 symptoms:
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a runny nose
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sore throat
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cough, fever
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vomiting
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diarrhoea
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headache
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loss of smell or taste
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shortness of breath
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Always:
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Cover coughs and sneezes – Sneeze and cough into your elbow or a tissue
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Throw away tissues in a bin and then wash and dry or sanitise your hands.
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Regularly wash your hands with soap or use an alcohol-based hand sanitiser.
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Look after you and your family’s mental wellbeing
Prepare
Influenza (flu vax)
Vaccination against flu is our first line of defence against illness this winter.
The 2024 flu vaccination is available now and is free for those most likely to get very sick, including those aged 65 years and older. You can book yourself, a family member, or a group on bookmyvaccine.health.nz
We are concerned about the risks of outbreaks of measles and whooping cough this winter – there are free vaccinations available for these illnesses, speak to your healthcare provider.
You can also call the Vaccination Healthline on 0800 28 29 26 or contact your GP or pharmacy.
Check if you are eligible for a free flu vaccination
Covid-19
COVID-19 is still in our communities and is a significant risk.
Initial doses of the Covid-19 vaccine are free and available for everyone aged 6 months and up to 4 years old, if they mee the eligibility criteria. More information on eligibility criteria go to Getting COVID-19 vaccines (info.health.nz)
Initial doses of the COVID-19 vaccine are also free and available for everyone aged 5 years and older.
For people aged 12-29 years, additional doses are free and available if they meet the eligibility criteria. For more information on eligibility criteria go to: COVID-19 vaccines additional doses (info.health.nz)
Additional doses are free and available for all people aged 30 years and older.
Being up to date with your COVID-19 vaccinations remains one of the best things we can do to protect ourselves from serious illness, hospitalisation, and death from COVID-19.
You can book for yourself, a family member, or a group on bookmyvaccine.health.nz
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To have an additional dose:
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You must have had your initial COVID-19 vaccinations.
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It’s recommended you wait at least 6 months since your last COVID-19 vaccine or wait at least 6 months since you last had COVID-19.
Find out more about the Covid-19 vaccination
Find out more information on the COVID-19 Health Hub
Childhood immunisation
Immunising your child is one of the best ways to set them up for a healthy future. It protects your tamariki from some serious preventable diseases, reduces the risk of hospitalisation and sometimes fatal illness.
Getting your child vaccinated also helps stop the spread of viruses around your community.
In New Zealand, children are immunised against 13 preventable diseases, including whooping cough, chickenpox and measles. These immunisations are free for babies, children, adolescents, and pregnant people.
It’s recommended that immunisations are given at specific times throughout your child’s life, between six weeks and four years old, with further immunisations at 11 or 12 and 18 years. The National Immunisation Schedule A provides a timetable of when your child should get these immunisations to ensure they get the best possible protection against disease.
Pregnant people are encouraged to get vaccinated against flu and other diseases such as whooping cough, to provide immunity for their unborn baby from these illnesses.
Children can also get additional vaccinations to protect them against the flu from 6 months old and COVID-19, if they’re over 5 years old.
Some children may also need extra immunisations if they have long-term conditions, such as diabetes.
Immunisation saves lives, so it’s important your child has all their immunisations. If your child has missed any immunisations, it’s not too late to catch up.
To find out if your child is up to date with their immunisations, or to get your child immunised talk to your doctor or practice nurse.
Find out more about immunising your child
Protect
This is important when visiting people at a higher risk of becoming seriously unwell, like older people and kaumātua, and those with other health conditions. We need to be particularly careful when we’re at places with vulnerable people, like aged residential care facilities, and hospitals.
Even if you’re fully vaccinated, or have had viruses in the past, continuing to wear a face mask is important in keeping you, your whānau and your community safe.
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Respiratory viruses like COVID-19 and the flu are highly infectious and can be spread in crowded indoor spaces.
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A good way to reduce your chance of getting infected, and of infecting others, is by wearing a well-fitting face mask.
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If you’re infectious, a face mask can stop those same particles from spreading to others, protecting those around you and helps to reduce their risk of being infected.
Coming down with something? Let your body go to work and rest at home.
Stay at home if you are feeling unwell and take a test if you have cold, flu or COVID-19 symptoms.
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a runny nose
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sore throat
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cough, fever
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vomiting
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diarrhoea
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headache
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loss of smell or taste
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shortness of breath.
Be prepared and have Rapid Antigen Tests (RATs) at home. You can also request free RAT tests Request a RAT | Te Whatu Ora (covid19.health.nz) The symptoms of flu can be similar to the symptoms of COVID-19. Both spread easily, so if you feel sick, stay home and take a COVID-19 test. It’s a good idea to have rapid antigen tests (RATs) at home for when you need them.
Act Early
You can access care and advice in different ways if you get sick this winter.
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Ask for advice early so you can work out what healthcare support you need to get better
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Hospitals are very busy over winter so unless it’s an emergency please use other services.
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If you are ever feeling worried about your health and wellbeing, or are concerned about someone, contact your doctor or healthcare provider.
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If you can’t access a doctor or don’t have one, you can call Healthline on 0800 611 116 anytime 24/7 for free, for health advice, treatment and information about what to do next. You can also talk to your community pharmacist or visit an Urgent Care Clinic. Visit Healthpoint for details of where to find these services.
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If you live or are staying in a rural area, you can contact Ka Ora Telecare afterhours to seek medical advice or a medical consultation - call 0800 252 672 or book online Ka Ora Telecare
- In any critical or life-threatening emergency call 111 for an ambulance, such as:
- heavy bleeding
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broken bones
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bad burns
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chest pain
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issues breathing
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staying conscious
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mental health emergencies
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severe allergic reactions
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injuries after an accident like a car crash.
Plan ahead for winter
Be prepared if you or one of your whānau have an ongoing or underlying chronic health condition:
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Check the supply of your regular medicines and arrange your next prescription in plenty of time before they run out.
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Discuss with your whānau or healthcare provider what your action plan is if you become unwell.
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Check you have everything you need to stay well, especially if you’re in a remote or rural area where there may not be as many health services. Your local doctor may be able to register you with their patient portal so you can book online appointments, order repeat prescriptions, and see your health records – all from a computer, tablet, or your phone.
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Keep some RATs at home in case you need to test for COVID-19 – click here for locations.
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Immunising your child is one of the best ways to set them up for a healthy future. It’s also important to make sure all the younger and older adults in your whānau are up to date with immunisations.
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This year it’s important to check if you child is immunised against whooping cough. Adults at the age of 45, and again at 65, are also eligible for a free whooping cough (pertussis) vaccination.
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It’s not too late to get immunisations up to date, for you, your children or wider whānau. It’s easy to catch-up, so speak to your healthcare provider or check Immunisations - Health Information and Services for help and advice.
Look after you and your family’s wellbeing
Develop a winter plan for your whānau so family members know what to do if people become unwell, whether it’s COVID-19, the flu or another winter illness. Understand what is expected of you by your employer if you become sick.
If you have an underlying health condition - be prepared and check the supply of your regular medications and arrange your next prescription before they run out.
As we head into winter, it is important to look after our health, wairua (spirit), hinengaro (mind), relationships, and overall wellbeing.
Some people are particularly prone to the “winter blues” or Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), a form of depression that's related to the change of season from summer to winter. SAD may be mild for some people, but for others, SAD is seriously disabling and prevents them from functioning normally without continuous medical treatment.
You should not ignore SAD, as it can be effectively treated. If you think you are experiencing SAD, talk to your doctor and check out the Mental Health Foundation website, for more information on SAD.
It’s important to develop or maintain routines through winter to look after your mental wellbeing. These routines or habits will help you now, and into the future.
• There are a few simple things you can do every day to support your mental wellbeing:
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Stay connected with friends and whānau.
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Stick to a schedule or routine as best you can.
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Move your body daily.
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Get outside and spend time in nature. o Limit your time online and the amount of news you follow
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Notice and appreciate small moments of joy.
The Mental Health Foundation website and campaign ‘Allsorts’ has practical tips, stories, and resources focused on things we can all do to maintain our mental wellbeing and look after our whānau while living with COVID-19 in our communities.
Who to contact when you need help this winter
Health Advice and Support
You can get free health advice and information from Healthline nurses, paramedics, advisors, and doctors (who can help with prescriptions). If you can’t access a GP, or you don’t currently have a GP, you’re not sure about something call 0800 611 116 anytime, day or night.
You can choose to speak with a Māori clinician (if you’re calling 8am-8pm). Interpreters are available.
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You can get health advice from your local pharmacist. Your local pharmacist can also help with advice about cold and flu symptoms, and a range of other minor ailments. Some pharmacies also offer immunisation for influenza, pertussis, MMR, and COVID, blood pressure measurement and monitoring, blood glucose and blood cholesterol tests.
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Your local healthcare provider, such as your general practice; they may also be able to see you via telehealth.
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If you become increasingly unwell, have underlying health conditions, or you are concerned about your health, call your GP or call Healthline on 0800 611 116 anytime for free health advice and information.
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If you have a sick child with breathing difficulties, seek medical care from your doctor immediately. You can call Healthline on 0800 611 116 anytime for free health advice and information. If it’s an emergency, call 111.
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If it’s an emergency, call 111.
For accurate and reliable information on how to manage colds and flus visit Healthify He Puna Waiora (previously Health Navigator NZ) or KidsHealth
The dedicated Disability Healthline 0800 11 12 13 has been supporting members of the disability community with testing, face mask exemptions and managing COVID at home. The helpline team can also help with:
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Any general health concerns
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If a support worker/carer is unavailable or hasn’t arrived
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Connecting you with the information and support you need.
You can contact them via phone 0800 11 12 13 or text 8988. If you need assistance, you can access it using the NZ Relay Service
A person with experience or knowledge of disability will answer your call from 8am – 8pm. After 8pm, calls are answered by a trained member of the Healthline team.
Healthline
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If you become unwell or are concerned about your health, contact your GP or healthcare provider.
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If you can’t access a GP or don’t have one, you can call Healthline for free on 0800 611 116 for health advice and information about what to do next.
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Healthline nurses, paramedics and advisors are available anytime, day or night.
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You can choose to speak with a Māori clinician if you’re calling between 8am and 8pm. Interpreters are available and the Healthline team can arrange to talk to you in your language. When your call is answered, say you’d like an interpreter and the language you’d like to speak in.
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If you are deaf, hard of hearing, speech-impaired and need assistance, you can access Healthline using the NZ Relay Service www.nzrelay.co.nz
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Healthline can also call you back – if you don’t need help or advice straight away, or you’re busy, you can ask Healthline to call you by going to www.healthify.org.nz, and clicking “request a call back”, entering your details and a nurse or paramedic will call you.
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From 1 July 2024 the Vaccination Healthline, COVID Healthline, and Disability Helpline as separate services will stop operating. After this date, call Healthline on 0800 611 116 for any support or advice about vaccinations or COVID-19.
Helplines
• Need to talk? (1737 – free call or text) any time for support from a trained counsellor
• The Depression Helpline 0800 111 757 or free text 4202 to talk to a trained counsellor about how you are feeling or to ask any questions
• Healthline 0800 611 116
• Youthline 0800 376 633
• The Lowdown Text 5626 for support to help young people recognise and understand depression or anxiety
• Alcohol Drug Helpline 0800 787 797
Your General Practice
It is important to call your healthcare provider first, if you are unwell. They may be able to give you advice on the phone or organise a convenient and safe place and time for you to be seen.
In some areas of the country Urgent Care Clinics, Accident and Medical or After-hours clinics will be open longer. (NB: due to the unavailability of urgent and after hours care in some districts, this message may not be suitable for all audiences)
If you have a sick child with breathing difficulties, seek medical care from your doctor urgently and if it’s an emergency, call 111
Your Community pharmacy
Get health advice from your local pharmacist - some pharmacies also offer immunisation for influenza, pertussis, MMR, and COVID-19. Some also offer blood pressure measurement and monitoring, blood glucose and blood cholesterol tests. Also, some pharmacies can provide COVID-19 antiviral medicines without a prescription – see here for a list.
If you’re unwell, it is important to call first. They may be able to give you advice on the phone or organise a convenient and safe place, and time for you to be seen.
Most pharmacies have a private area. Even if you cannot see one, tell your pharmacist if you want to discuss your health issues in private.
Rural clinical telehealth service (through Ka Ora Telecare)
The Rural Clinical Telehealth Service is an after-hours telehealth service providing medical advice (Nurse Practitioner or doctor consultations) for rural whānau and communities.
The service is available after-hours from 5.00pm - 8.00am on weekdays, and 24 hours a day on weekends and public holidays.
Te Reo Māori speakers and a translation service is also available.
The service provides free access to care navigators and nurse consultation. Fees apply for consults with a clinician (Nurse Practitioner, General Practitioner or Emergency Doctor). Under 14s will remain free, and those on Community Services Card or who are 65 years and older will pay $19.50. For further information about fees visit Ka Ora Telecare
To access the Rural Clinical Telehealth Service call 0800 252 672 or book online Ka Ora Telecare
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If it is an emergency or you are severely unwell, call 111.
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If you become unwell or are concerned about your health, contact your GP or healthcare provider. During after hours, weekend or public holiday your GP’s phone service will direct you to the appropriate available eservice.
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If you can’t access a GP or don’t have one, you can call Healthline for free on 0800 611 116 for health advice, treatment, and information about what to do next or who to see, including referral to Rural Clinical Telehealth Service if appropriate.
Click here to find out more about where to get help
