There are many things we can do to keep ourselves, our whānau and others well this winter:
- wear a mask in crowded spaces
- stay home if you’re feeling sick
- keep up to date with your vaccinations
- test for COVID if you have symptoms.
Be prepared, just in case.
Check you have everything you need to stay well including prescriptions and medicines.
Talk to your doctor, nurse, pharmacist, or health practitioner about your eligibility for COVID antiviral medicines. People with a high risk of becoming very sick from COVID, people aged 65 or over, Māori or Pacific people 50 or over are eligible.
Stay home if you’re sick. If it’s COVID, isolate
If you test positive for COVID, stay home and isolate for 7 days. All household contacts should test daily for 5 days from the day the person with COVID tests positive.
Remember to register your RAT result at MyCovidRecord.nz to access further help and support.
Free RATs (Rapid Antigen Tests) can be collected at participating pharmacies or ordered by calling 0800 222 478.
Find out more at covid19.govt.nz
Choose well this winter
Getting sick over winter is common but symptoms can often be managed at home safely. For symptoms that might need a bit more care there are a range of options available.
Not all regions have urgent care. Check healthpoint.co.nz to find the best options near you.
Free health advice
There are many ways you can access free health advice and help whenever you need it.
You can access online resources anytime, go to your pharmacy for healthcare advice or call free phone numbers. Most 0800 numbers have access to interpreters
Healthify.nz
Reliable online information about health and medicines, self-care resources and videos can be found at the Healthify He Puna Waiora website healthify.nz (previously Healthnavigator.org.nz)
Healthline 0800 611 116
Call Healthline anytime for trusted health advice and information from nurses, paramedics, advisors, and doctors. You can choose to speak with a Māori clinician if you’re calling between 8am-8pm.
Mental health and wellbeing support is available on 1737 – call or text
If you’re feeling stressed, down or overwhelmed or just need someone to talk to, free call or text 1737 24 hours a day to talk to a trained counsellor.
You can also visit allsorts.org.nz for a wide range of resources.
Disability Helpline 0800 11 12 13 or text 8988
A dedicated team can support members of the disability community with:
- COVID testing, face mask exemptions, managing COVID at home
- any general health concerns
- information and support.
For assistance, you can access this using the NZ Relay Service www.nzrelay.co.nz
Vaccination Healthline 0800 28 29 26
For COVID and flu vaccination advice, information and booking assistance
COVID Healthline 0800 358 5453
Supports people with information and advice about COVID.
Always call 111 first if it is a life-threatening emergency or you or someone you know is in danger
Help protect yourself, your whānau and your community.
Keep up to date with your immunisations
Immunising tamariki
Getting tamariki vaccinated is one of the best ways to set them up for a healthy future. Vaccines on the National Immunisation Schedule are free for all children aged 18 years or under. Find out more at www.immunise.health.nz.
Flu jab
It’s time for everyone aged 6 months or over to get their 2023 flu jab. It is free for people aged 6 months to 12 years, aged 65 years or over Māori and Pacific people aged 55 years or over, pregnant people and, people with underlying health conditions.
COVID-19 boosters
COVID-19 vaccines are free for everyone aged 5 years or over. Regardless of how many boosters you have already had, you can get an additional booster now if you are:
- aged 30 years or over
- pregnant, and aged 16 years or over
- aged 16 to 29 years and at higher risk of getting severely sick from COVID
- aged 12 to 15 years with a medical condition that increases the risk getting severely sick COVID-19.
You can make a booking for both your flu and COVID vaccinations at bookmyvaccine.health.nz, at your local pharmacy or, talk to your local GP, nurse or health centre.
For more information visit health.govt.nz/gowell