Post by Nadica (She/Her) on Nov 27, 2024 2:37:28 GMT
How to stay COVID-safe this festive season, from the latest vaccine advice to tips for shopping and socialising - Published Nov 26, 2024
By Jessica Riga
Christmas is less than a month away, but COVID-19 doesn't take a break over the festive season.
While case numbers are "essentially meaningless now", infectious diseases physician and clinical microbiologist Paul Griffin says other indicators are pointing to high levels of COVID-19 activity.
"In my clinical practice I'm looking after a number of people who have been hospitalised with COVID at the moment, including some with severe disease," Professor Griffin says.
"So it's very clear COVID remains a risk but our case numbers unfortunately don't portray that accurately at all."
As the silly season gets underway, here's how you can stay COVID-safe these holidays.
There's an updated vaccine rolling out in December
Professor Griffin says getting vaccinated against COVID-19 and keeping up-to-date with boosters is the main course of action Australians can take to protect themselves and others.
Australia's national drug regulator, the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA), approved Pfizer's newest vaccine in October.
The updated Pfizer vaccine targets the Omicron sub-variant JN.1 and will be available for anyone over six months of age from December 9.
"If you're travelling or planning on gathering as hopefully most of us are, being up to date with your vaccine would be ideal," Professor Griffin says.
"I think the time to start thinking about that would be now so that you can find out if you're eligible and plan to get one of those."
According to the Department of Health and Aged Care, COVID-19 vaccination rates were down in all states and territories for the November reporting period.
Consider masking up in busy shopping centres
Battling shopping centre crowds in order to find the perfect gift is as much a holiday tradition as putting up the Christmas tree.
But on your next trip to the shops, Professor Griffin says there's no harm in packing a mask if you're concerned about getting sick.
"Masks are still something we should be very much comfortable using, particularly for high risk people because they do help to a degree," he says.
Professor Griffin also recommends visiting busy venues outside of peak hours so you can maintain a safe distance and stay away from anyone exhibiting symptoms.
And if you are sick, the expert advice is to stay home.
"If you are unwell, stay away from those sorts of places until you're not likely to be infectious," Professor Griffin says.
Make sure there's good ventilation if you're hosting
If you're on hosting duties this year, Professor Griffin says it is wise to consider air quality and ventilation.
"If you are gathering, you can open windows, have fans on, and ideally even air purifiers if the situation is appropriate," he says.
"Even simple hygiene things like cough and sneeze etiquette and hand hygiene are also important."
Professor Griffin says measures like ventilation help not just with COVID-19 but all respiratory diseases circulating at the moment.
"Pertussis, or whooping cough, is probably the other big thing we're seeing record numbers of across the country," he says.
Whooping cough cases across Australia have passed 40,000 in a year for the first time since recording began more than 30 years ago.
To November 26, there had been 47,365 cases confirmed across the country, passing the 38,748 cases recorded in 2011.
"Importantly, a lot of those same measures that we would recommend for COVID apply equally to essentially all other respiratory infectious diseases, and that certainly includes pertussis," he said.
"So being mindful of those basic principles is wise to reduce people's risk for lots of different things that are potentially out there."
Stay home if you have symptoms
One of the biggest ways to stop the spread of COVID-19 is to avoid social gatherings if you're symptomatic.
The symptoms of COVID-19 can range from mild to severe and include fever, coughing, sore throat and shortness of breath.
"Obviously we've transitioned now with COVID-19 that we certainly don't want to dictate what people do over this holiday season, especially given how long we've been dealing with it," Professor Griffin says.
"But it is still important to just have it at least in the back of your mind so that we can reduce that risk, particularly for vulnerable people.
"If you do get symptoms that could be COVID, or if you're unwell with anything that you could potentially pass on, do try and avoid catching up with other people and particularly being around those who are vulnerable."
Vulnerable groups include young children, the elderly, or those who are immunocompromised.
Professor Griffin says those who are eligible should consider accessing antivirals if necessary.
"They greatly alter the trajectory, particularly in those high-risk people, reducing their likelihood of ending up in hospital or not surviving," he says.
"They are really important tools to reduce the impact of COVID."
By Jessica Riga
Christmas is less than a month away, but COVID-19 doesn't take a break over the festive season.
While case numbers are "essentially meaningless now", infectious diseases physician and clinical microbiologist Paul Griffin says other indicators are pointing to high levels of COVID-19 activity.
"In my clinical practice I'm looking after a number of people who have been hospitalised with COVID at the moment, including some with severe disease," Professor Griffin says.
"So it's very clear COVID remains a risk but our case numbers unfortunately don't portray that accurately at all."
As the silly season gets underway, here's how you can stay COVID-safe these holidays.
There's an updated vaccine rolling out in December
Professor Griffin says getting vaccinated against COVID-19 and keeping up-to-date with boosters is the main course of action Australians can take to protect themselves and others.
Australia's national drug regulator, the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA), approved Pfizer's newest vaccine in October.
The updated Pfizer vaccine targets the Omicron sub-variant JN.1 and will be available for anyone over six months of age from December 9.
"If you're travelling or planning on gathering as hopefully most of us are, being up to date with your vaccine would be ideal," Professor Griffin says.
"I think the time to start thinking about that would be now so that you can find out if you're eligible and plan to get one of those."
According to the Department of Health and Aged Care, COVID-19 vaccination rates were down in all states and territories for the November reporting period.
Consider masking up in busy shopping centres
Battling shopping centre crowds in order to find the perfect gift is as much a holiday tradition as putting up the Christmas tree.
But on your next trip to the shops, Professor Griffin says there's no harm in packing a mask if you're concerned about getting sick.
"Masks are still something we should be very much comfortable using, particularly for high risk people because they do help to a degree," he says.
Professor Griffin also recommends visiting busy venues outside of peak hours so you can maintain a safe distance and stay away from anyone exhibiting symptoms.
And if you are sick, the expert advice is to stay home.
"If you are unwell, stay away from those sorts of places until you're not likely to be infectious," Professor Griffin says.
Make sure there's good ventilation if you're hosting
If you're on hosting duties this year, Professor Griffin says it is wise to consider air quality and ventilation.
"If you are gathering, you can open windows, have fans on, and ideally even air purifiers if the situation is appropriate," he says.
"Even simple hygiene things like cough and sneeze etiquette and hand hygiene are also important."
Professor Griffin says measures like ventilation help not just with COVID-19 but all respiratory diseases circulating at the moment.
"Pertussis, or whooping cough, is probably the other big thing we're seeing record numbers of across the country," he says.
Whooping cough cases across Australia have passed 40,000 in a year for the first time since recording began more than 30 years ago.
To November 26, there had been 47,365 cases confirmed across the country, passing the 38,748 cases recorded in 2011.
"Importantly, a lot of those same measures that we would recommend for COVID apply equally to essentially all other respiratory infectious diseases, and that certainly includes pertussis," he said.
"So being mindful of those basic principles is wise to reduce people's risk for lots of different things that are potentially out there."
Stay home if you have symptoms
One of the biggest ways to stop the spread of COVID-19 is to avoid social gatherings if you're symptomatic.
The symptoms of COVID-19 can range from mild to severe and include fever, coughing, sore throat and shortness of breath.
"Obviously we've transitioned now with COVID-19 that we certainly don't want to dictate what people do over this holiday season, especially given how long we've been dealing with it," Professor Griffin says.
"But it is still important to just have it at least in the back of your mind so that we can reduce that risk, particularly for vulnerable people.
"If you do get symptoms that could be COVID, or if you're unwell with anything that you could potentially pass on, do try and avoid catching up with other people and particularly being around those who are vulnerable."
Vulnerable groups include young children, the elderly, or those who are immunocompromised.
Professor Griffin says those who are eligible should consider accessing antivirals if necessary.
"They greatly alter the trajectory, particularly in those high-risk people, reducing their likelihood of ending up in hospital or not surviving," he says.
"They are really important tools to reduce the impact of COVID."