In this podcast episode of Matter of Vax, Professor Christopher Blyth joins host Stephanie O'Connell to discuss influenza and its impact on public health. He highlights the significant decrease in influenza cases and deaths during the COVID-19 pandemic due to preventive measures such as vaccinations, travel restrictions, quarantine, hand hygiene, and mask-wearing.

Professor Blyth predicts a significant flu season in 2023 as restrictions ease and people return to normal activities, and he explains why the influenza vaccine needs to be administered annually due to the virus's continuous evolution.

Professor Blyth emphasizes the importance of staying home when unwell, practicing good cough etiquette, maintaining proper hand hygiene, and considering mask-wearing in crowded places to reduce the transmission of various respiratory viruses. He encourages for us to stay updated with vaccines and to follow preventive measures to protect themselves and their communities.

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For more episodes of Matter of Vax, visit https://www.ifa.org.au/matterofvax

Host Steph O'Connell is a public health advocate with 25 years’ experience in strategic communications. She became a public voice for vaccinations when her daughter, Lily (23), narrowly survived W strain of Meningococcal on Christmas Day, 2017. Nine months later her sister, Grace, donated a kidney that has since transformed Lily’s life. 

Steph’s advocacy for immunisation awareness and vaccination became a collaboration in 2018 with Meningococcal Australia and resulted in Meningococcal vaccination campaigns by the Australian Government Department of Health and NSW Health. Lily’s story quickly resonated with audiences and became a national and international appeal for awareness, education and vaccination. 

Steph’s work expanded during the pandemic and today she continues to advocate for improved access to vaccines, public education for lifelong vaccination behaviour and policy reform. MatterofVax, in collaboration with Immunisation Foundation of Australia takes a look at topical immunisation issues on video and podcast. 

Listen to Matter of Vax on Apple. 

Matter of Vax is produced by Ampel, for Immunisation Foundation of Australia.