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Chiefs Protect Themselves And Families
Media Release
Date: 4 April 2013
Chiefs Protect
Themselves And Families
Chiefs protect selves and families from
“killer flu” and whooping cough
This year’s “killer flu” has the power to
take out an entire team of burly men and their families.
And the risk is one that Chiefs players are unwilling to take.
Today the rugby players, some partners, and their children were vaccinated against the deadly-serious influenza strain that killed nearly 100 people in North America.
Fifty four of the 70 people vaccinated were also immunised for pertussis (whooping cough), of which there is currently a national epidemic. Last month Waikato DHB had the second highest notification rate of pertussis in New Zealand.
“The Chiefs’ readiness to be immunised reflects the importance of the key message “no one is ‘too fit to get hit’,” said Waikato DHB medical officer of health Dr Felicity Dumble.
“As sportsmen they are well aware of the importance of maintaining good health. The impact of being knocked off the field by either of these illnesses is huge,” she said.
Chiefs co-captain Liam Messam reiterated the team is getting immunised so they “don’t get wiped out”.
“We are at a crucial time and it’s important we are at our best,” said Liam, whose child and partner were also immunised.
Ultimately, family comes before the
field.
Former All Black Ross Filipo and wife Louise
Filipo, pregnant with their third child, said it was a “no
brainer” for the whole family to have their
vaccines.
“Last year when we were in France our kids
got the flu and our son wound up in hospital,” Louise
said.
“It was particularly bad for him because he is
asthmatic, so he ended up on steroids. We don’t want to go
through that again. We’ll get our shots each year,” she
said.
All pregnant women and newborn infants are at
particularly high risk of severe outcomes from flu and
whooping cough.
“We encourage pregnant women to ask their doctor about the free pertussis vaccine when receiving their influenza vaccine. Both vaccines are recommended and funded for pregnant women, as the viruses cause high risk to mother and baby and are circulating at epidemic levels," Dr Dumble said
Fritz Lee’s partner Amy Connell, 23 weeks pregnant, is also a firm advocate for the immunisations.
“It’s important to us to be immunised because pregnant women are more susceptible to illness. Having the vaccines ensures we’ve done all that we can to keep each other and our little one safe.
“We adults can pass whooping cough onto kids without even knowing we have it. My whooping cough vaccine will keep our baby protected for the first five to six weeks before the baby can be immunised,” she said.
The immunisations are part of the Chiefs partnership with the Waikato DHB and Waikids (the Waikato DHB youth and children services).
“We’re excited about this
partnership. We look forward to continually representing
Waikato DHB in various health initiatives,” Chiefs CEO
Gary Dawson said.
Caption: Chiefs player Ross
Filipo and 2-year-old daughter Kiana Filipo are immunised
for flu and pertussis (whooping cough). The Filipo family
was badly struck by last year’s flu strain.
Caption: Men protecting their
boys: Chiefs' doctor James McGarvey and player Patrick
Osborne defend their little men Theo McGarvey and Lucas
Osbourne by receiving the flu and pertussis (whooping cough)
vaccines.
http://www.waikatodhb.govt.nz/photogallery.aspx?category=4394
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Check out our media releases on www.waikatodhb.health.nz/news or
About
Waikato District Health Board and Health
Waikato:
Waikato DHB is responsible for planning, funding and providing quality health and disability support services for the 373,220 people living in the Waikato DHB region. It has an annual turnover of $1.2 billion and employs more than 6450 people.
Health Waikato is the DHB’s main provider of hospital and health services. It has six groups across five hospital sites, three primary birthing units, two continuing care facilities and 20 community bases offering a comprehensive range of primary, secondary and tertiary health services.
A wide range of independent providers deliver other Waikato DHB-funded health services - including primary health, pharmacies and community laboratories.
| www.waikatodhb.health.nz/news |
ENDS
Waikato District Health Board
Healthy People. Excellent Care
Waikato District Health Board (DHB) employs over 6500 people and plans, funds and provides hospital and health services to more than 391,770 people in a region covering eight per cent of New Zealand.
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