Australian cricket legend Steve Waugh has encouraged others to get their flu jab in time for winter – after getting his shot in Cronulla.
The Sutherland Shire resident received his jab today at Blooms The Chemist Cronulla.
Mr Waugh is an ambassador for Blooms The Chemist and encouraged people to get their flu shot at a local pharmacy ahead of winter.
Blooms The Chemist Cronulla has partnered with Apotex, who supply nurses to administer the flu jabs.
Many pharmacies and chemists offer flu jabs making it easy to protect against seasonal influenza.
Since 2015, pharmacists in NSW, with the correct training, are also able to offer in-pharmacy flu injections.
People can contact pharmacies directly to ask about getting the flu injection while many pharmacies take bookings online.
Mr Waugh’s flu shot at Blooms The Chemist today also doubled as the 10,000th wellness clinic being run by Apotex.
A study released this year, by the Pharmacy Guild of Australia, reported more than 2.1 million adults in NSW were more likely to have a flu shot if it could be administered at a local pharmacy. Despite that, many people still identified they would not be getting the injection, according to the study.
“Given our study identified around one million adults in NSW who have previously vaccinated against flu have no intention to vaccinate this year, clearly we must do more to heighten public awareness of the importance of protecting against flu,” Pharmacy Guild of Australia national president George Tambassis said.
“Given ... the majority of Australians reside within 1.5km from a pharmacy, it makes sense that pharmacists can now vaccinate, as we represent a convenient and accessible destination for flu vaccination.”
Federal Minister for Health Greg Hunt said: “The availability of vaccination by trained pharmacists across Australia, particularly in rural areas, greatly assists the community’s access to protection against the flu.”
More than 3000 Australians die from influenza each year and an estimated 18,000 Australians are hospitalised with the infection.
Blooms The Chemist has 87 stores in NSW, Queensland and Victoria.
