Communicating well before winter can prevent infectious disease

Older age is one of the biggest risk factors for severe illness from infectious respiratory diseases such as COVID-19 and influenza (flu). Aged care residents are particularly vulnerable because of their pre-existing health conditions, complex care needs and close living arrangements.

Regular vaccination is still the best line of defence against severe illness, hospitalisation and death from infectious respiratory diseases.

Regular communication with older people, their families and carers is critical to keep vaccination front of mind. The Department of Health and Aged Care has recently released toolkits and guides to help you communicate about disease prevention and have conversations about vaccination.

Download the Infectious respiratory disease: prepare and prevent for older people toolkit.

The toolkit includes:

1. key messages
2. discussion guidance
3. newsletter article
4. social media posts
5. postcard
6. social media tiles.

Also available are general guides on:

• Infectious respiratory disease prevention: responsibilities and obligations
• Infectious respiratory disease: prepare and prevent for older people for multicultural communities
• Infectious respiratory disease: prepare and prevent for older Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples
• HealthPathway Influenza Immunisation page

Discussing vaccination may help your aged care residents, their families and carers prevent the spread of infectious respiratory diseases.