Feeling crook this winter? Know your options
23 May 2024
Speak to your GP
Your regular GP should be the first contact when you feel ill. Your GP will know your medical history and is best placed to know what interventions may be needed. To avoid public places while you are potentially infectious, see if your GP offers telehealth appointments. If you must leave your home, please wear a facemask.
Call healthdirect
Call healthdirect if your regular GP isn’t available. Healthdirect is a 24-hour health advice service.
When you call the healthdirect helpline you speak to a nurse about your symptoms and what to do next. If the nurse decides you should seek medical care, they may make an appointment with an Urgent Care Service on your behalf. The nurse may help you find a convenient pharmacy or recommend a GP practice if you don’t have a regular doctor.
Call healthdirect on 1800 022 222
Call Triple Zero (000) or go to your nearest hospital emergency department if you think your illness may be life-threatening and need immediate medical attention.
Are your vaccinations up-to-date?
Protect yourself and your family from influenza (flu) so you can keep doing the things you love this winter. To lower your chance of getting seriously ill from COVID-19 or the flu, make sure your vaccinations are current. You can get both the flu and COVID vaccines on the same day.
Flu vaccine
The annual flu vaccine is recommended for everyone aged six months or over and is free for some people under the National Immunisation Program. These people include:
- children aged six months to five years
- adults aged 65 years and over
- Pregnant women
- First Nations people aged six months or older
- people with identified medical risk conditions
Speak to your GP or pharmacist, or find and book a flu vaccine service through healthdirect:
Book your flu vaccine
COVID-19 booster
(immunocompromised) are eligible to receive a booster dose every six months. Adults (over 18 years) may get a booster dose every 12 months. Children aged between 5 and 17 who have a very weak immune system are also eligible to receive a booster dose every 12 months. COVID-19 vaccination is free for everyone living in Australia. The vaccine is available at many GP practices and pharmacies.
Check when you received your last vaccination through My Health Record or Medicare.
Check your eligibility for a COVID-19 vaccine using the Department of Health and Aged Care eligibility checker.
COVID-19 Booster Eligibility Checker
To arrange your booster, speak to your GP or visit the healthdirect COVID-19 vaccine clinic finder.
Identify symptoms and reduce your risk
Find a flu factsheet in your language
A to help you identify symptoms and reduce your risk of catching the flu this season is available from the NSW Health website:
Influenza fact sheet – Fact sheets (nsw.gov.au)
Find latest information on COVID-19
Information to help you identify symptoms and reduce your risk of catching COVID-19 this season is available from the NSW Government website:
NSW Government – Protect yourself from COVID-19
Read more about respiratory illnesses like flu, COVID-19 and RSV on the NSW Health website.