Don't be fooled, be prepared

The Asthma Foundation
Media Statement

28 April 2010

“Don’t be fooled, be prepared”

People with asthma mustn’t let the mild autumn we have had lull them into a false sense of security and should get immunised against influenza as soon as possible, says the Asthma Foundation.

“Many people with asthma, rightly, take more care to manage their illness the colder it gets. It may not have been as cold as usual but that could change overnight,” says Chief Executive, Jane Patterson.

“Besides, the flu can get you however fit you are, whatever the temperature.”

“We are calling on people with asthma and everyone with children and others they care about with asthma to ensure that steps are taken to reduce the risk of a potentially dangerous flare up, “Jane says.

“People should make sure they get the flu vaccine [which covers both seasonal flu and the swine flu], which is free for people with long-term asthma and other respiratory illnesses until 30 June. They should also take care to use their preventer inhaler regularly and not just rely on a reliever.

“About 1 in 4 children and 1 in 6 adults in this country has asthma, so this is a big public health issue too, “Jane says.

“We want people to enjoy their winter, free of illness, and we want to reduce the pressure on our already strained hospitals. So many New Zealanders end up in hospital because they don’t manage their asthma.”

The Ministry of Health his responded to reports that some children in Australia who have received the seasonal flu vaccine have experienced fever-linked convulsions. There have also been some cases in New Zealand, the Ministry says. All of the cases are linked to one of the vaccines, Fluvax.

The Ministry’s chief advisor for child and youth health, Dr Pat Tuohy, says: "There isn't a lot of information at this stage, but as a sensible precaution we recommend that providers avoid giving Fluvax to children under 5 until there have been further investigations. We still recommend that children at higher risk for flu complications get immunised using other brands of the vaccine.”

Next week is Asthma Awareness Week (3 to 9 May). Asthma is the leading reason for children being hospitalised in New Zealand and asthma kills. In 2006, the last year for which such statistics are available, 132 New Zealanders died from asthma.

The Asthma Foundation is raising money to support the work that Asthma Societies do in communities across Aotearoa helping New Zealanders get their asthma under control.

For more information: The Asthma Foundation’s Communications Manager, Malcolm Aitken on 027 62 52 835.