Canberrans have been urged to get their flu shot and practice cough hygiene to curb the spread of disease and lighten the winter burden on the ACT's health system.
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ACT Chief Health Officer Dr Paul Kelly said seasonal outbreaks of diseases such as influenza and gastroenteristis meant the territory's public health sector, particularly emergency departments, faced increased demand throughout winter.
Dr Kelly said the government's population health division, hospitals and general practitioners had worked to streamline hospital processes and infection control measures at the launch of the ACT's winter health plan on Tuesday.
Health Minister Simon Corbell said all Canberrans had a role to play in keeping fit and healthy over winter to ease the pressure on the health system.
"First of all, if you are sick make sure you go and see your GP and stay away from work.
"We know that the colds and flus that travel around out community during winter can have a big impact on our hospital emergency departments.
"The other key message is take some preventative action and make sure you have your winter flu shot because that's one of the most practical things we can all do to keep ourselves healthy and stop the spread of disease."
Dr Kelly said more than 52,000 influenza vaccines have been distributed, mostly through GPs, to vulnerable groups across the ACT already this year.
That was more vaccines than were handed out during all of 2014.
"We had a very high flu season last year with a lot of notifications, including almost 200 people admitted to both of our hospitals.
"Some of those had pneumonia, about 10 per cent ended up in intensive care."
That didn't include patients who presented with health complaints linked to chronic illnesses such as heart disease.
"We also have over 3000 of our own employees vaccinated and that's part of our plan to keep the hospital as safe as possible, keep our staff at work and not sick during the winter months," Dr Kelly said.
He said it wasn't too late for Canberrans to get their injection ahead of the July and August peak, but "the sooner the better".
In addition to a flu shot, ACT Medicare Local chairman Dr Martin Liedvogel recommended all Canberrans practiced cough hygiene.
Dr Liedvogel said anyone who felt sick should cover their mouth or cough into their elbow, cough or sneeze into a tissue then throw it away, wash hands frequently.
"The people who will beneft most from the influenza vaccinations are those over the age of 65, indigenous people from the age of six months to five years, and also over 15 years, and people with a chronic health condition.
