A fl u shot can reduce
severity of infection
Syphilis is on the increase
- know how to stay safe and when to be tested
Flu can be anywhere, so you can easily catch
it. Being generally fi t and healthy will not
always protect you from the fl u virus.
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Immunisation is the best protection against
infl uenza. It naturally boosts your immune
system to fi ght the virus when it attacks. Even
if you still catch the fl u after immunisation, your
symptoms are less likely to be severe.
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Annual infl uenza immunisation can keep
older people healthy and active for longer. For
example, a recent study has shown that catching
infl uenza can increase your risk of having a
heart attack by six times within the next week.
This fi nding, published in the New England
Journal of Medicine, reinforced the need for
people at risk of heart attacks to have fl u shots.
Infl uenza immunisation is especially important
for people aged 65 years and over. This group
experiences up to 90 percent of fl u-related
deaths and more than half of fl u-related hospital
stays.
In New Zealand, free fl u shots are available for
eligible adults and children six months and older
from April to December 31 each year (subject to
vaccine availability). However, April/May is the
best time to get your annual fl u shot so you’re
protected before fl u season strikes.
Infl uenza is not the same as a cold. It is a more
serious disease that can also make other existing
medical conditions worse.
Get immunised to stop the spread of fl u around
your community. Even if you don’t feel sick, you
could still be infected with the virus and pass it
on to others.
The infl uenza vaccine is a prescription medicine.
Talk to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist about
the benefi ts and possible risks. And, if you’re
between 65 and 80 years old, ask if you’re also
eligible for free shingles immunisation.
Infl uenza immunisation is free for pregnant
women, those aged 65 and over, and those under
65 with heart or respiratory disease, severe
asthma, diabetes, cancer and other serious
conditions that put them at greater risk of
complications from infl uenza.
The vaccine is available free for eligible people
from general practices, but pregnant women and
those aged 65 and over can also get immunised
free at many community pharmacies.
The two funded fl u vaccines this year will
contain four inactivated virus strains, specially
formulated for the New Zealand 2019 season.
Check out www.fi ghtfl u.co.nz to fi nd out
whether you qualify for free fl u immunisation
or call 0800 IMMUNE 0800 466 863.
Debbie’s smokefree pledge tree
Debbie Lawrence is being supported to quit
smoking by her workmates at BOPDHB’s Mental
Health and Addiction Service and the Bay’s Stop
Smoking Service Hāpainga.
24 September 2018 was a momentous day for
BOPDHB’s Mental Health and Addiction Services
Service Coordinator Debbie Lawrence. That was the
day she decided to quit smoking.
“I’ve been smoking on and off all my adult life
probably about a packet a day.”
Debbie says the deciding factor to quit was the cost.
“I know all the health benefi ts of being smokefree but
for me, it had to hit me in the pocket. That was my
incentive to quit.”
Debbie says a friend suggested sponsoring her to quit
smoking, donating $100 for cancer research if she
remained smokefree for a year. She thought, there
had to be a comeback. So she struck a deal that if she
was unsuccessful in that time, she would pay $100 to
cancer research.
Debbie’s workmates heard about the deal and knowing
that the journey wasn’t going to be easy and as a
means of supporting her they set up a smokefree
pledge tree in the staff room.
Each leaf placed on the tree represents the dollars they
pledge for cancer research. If Debbie is unsuccessful
in the 12 month timeframe she must match the total
amount pledged.
Debbie’s also being supported by Hāpainga. The
Bay of Plenty Stop Smoking Service works with
individuals to develop a quit smoking plan tailored
to their needs and it provides free nicotine patches,
gum or lozenges which ease cravings and double the
chance of successfully quitting.
Smokefree Practitioner Candy Blackwell says, “No
two people are alike, this is especially true when it
comes to what works for people quitting smoking.”
Candy fi rst met with Debbie at work. She supplied
her with the free nicotine patches and lozenges.
“Meeting Debbie at her workplace, meant she
didn’t have to take time off work to start her
smokefree journey”
Since then the pair have kept in contact regularly
either face to face or via text messaging.
“The level of support required is really tailored to the
individual’s needs. At fi rst we meet weekly but most
people don’t require ongoing support post four weeks,
says Candy.
For Debbie, it helps that her husband too has opted
to quit smoking. She estimates they are saving about
$150 a week. But she says it’s not easy.
“You think you may have cracked it and then
something pops up and you realise that craving is
still there.”
Debbie says she’s bought herself a hula hoop as a
distraction to keep herself busy in the evenings and
she’s taken up yoga as well.
And on the plus side, the couple have managed a few
weekends away with the money they’ve saved since
they quit.
Dr Massimo Giola says New Zealand is in the
midst of a syphilis epidemic.
An increase in the number of syphilis cases
across New Zealand, and including the Bay
of Plenty, has prompted a sexual health
expert to call for people to know what they
can do to stay safe and when to be tested.
“We are in the midst of a syphilis epidemic
and the number of cases has increased
dramatically in the last fi ve years,” says Dr
Massimo Giola, Sexual Health Physician for
Bay of Plenty District Health Board. “Five
years ago we were seeing only a few cases in
a whole year at the sexual health clinic, now
we’re seeing two to three new cases every
week here in the Bay of Plenty.”
In 2012 there were 80 confi rmed cases of
syphilis in New Zealand. For 2017, that
number had grown to 477. Dr Giola urges
people to consider how they can look after
their health and get tested if they have any
concerns. Syphilis is a sexually transmitted
infection (STI) and so you can prevent
infection with safer sex practices.
“If you have a new sexual partner use
condoms for sex, until you and your sexual
partner, or partners, have had a check for
STIs,” says Dr Giola.
Tests for syphilis and other STIs are free, so if
you are in a new relationship and need to have
an STI check, or if you are concerned that you
may be at risk, call your family doctor or visit
a sexual health clinic for confi dential advice
and testing.
The early symptoms of syphilis include a sore
or ulcer at the site of infection, usually the
genitals, anus or mouth. Not everyone has
symptoms and the sore may be painless and
hidden from view so may not be noticed. The
early symptoms such as a sore will disappear
on their own but without the right antibiotic
treatment the infection can stay in the body
for years and later cause serious illness
aff ecting the heart, brain, nerves and joints.
“Syphilis can be eff ectively treated with
antibiotics if diagnosed early but many
people do not get any symptoms. This is why
a blood test, which is the only way a syphilis
infection can be diagnosed, is so important as
part of an STI check,” says Dr Giola.
“The most worrying type of syphilis infection
we are seeing, particularly here in the Bay
of Plenty and Lakes region, is congenital
syphilis where a pregnant woman passes the
infection on to her unborn baby. We had four
cases of congenital syphilis in 2017 in New
Zealand and four cases again in 2018,” says
Dr Giola.
If a woman is infected with syphilis before or
during pregnancy, and is not diagnosed and
treated, there is a very high risk of passing
that infection on to the baby. This may have
devastating eff ects for the baby including
stillbirth or permanent damage to the eyes,
hearing, brain, bones, or other organs. This
is one of the reasons why it is so important to
see your midwife or doctor early in pregnancy
as a test for syphilis is one of the routine
blood tests done in pregnancy. Early diagnosis
in pregnancy allows eff ective antibiotic
treatment to be given and so it can prevent the
baby being infected or harmed.
Syphilis is preventable – with safer sexual
practices such as using condoms, knowing your
risk, and getting tested if you may be at risk, you
can be confi dent in keeping yourself safe.
For more information including
advice on getting tested see:
www.health.govt.nz/syphilis
And for more information on
safer sex practices see:
www.health.govt.nz/your-health/
healthy-living/sexual-health/
safer-sex-and-condoms
Growing whānau knowledge
through Hapū Hauora
Hapū Hauora is an online resource available
at www.hapuhauorahealth.nz which aims to
support Māori health and hapū wellbeing, using
language familiar to Māori that is perfect for the
marae setting.
The initial idea and content for the website was
developed in consultation with three Eastern
Bay of Plenty hapū who were keen to see
relevant and easily available information that
supports whānau wellness and hapū aspirations.
In 2017, three kete matauranga (baskets
of knowledge) were launched providing
information on oranga kai (healthy food),
auahi kore (smokefree), and te karonga i ngā
momo mate (avoiding infections). Each kete
includes resources, tips, interactive tools and
templates that support healthy behaviours in the
home and on the marae. In 2018, two further
kete matauranga were launched to include
information encouraging physical activity
(korikori tinana) and reducing the harm from
alcohol (whakakore waipiro).
Marae play an important role in infl uencing
the health and wellness of whānau and hapū.
We know that many whānau, hapū and marae
already lead the way living healthier and happier
lives. We’re excited to share these stories on our
website and help inspire other hapū.
If you’d like more information about Hapū
Hauora, or would like to korero about
getting support for your marae, visit the
Hapū Hauora website.