New Zealanders with HIV are strongly advised to visit their local medical centre for free protection against influenza as we head into the winter months. “Most people tend to dismiss the flu as nothing to worry about – in actual fact, people will say they have the flu when they actually just have a nasty head cold,” says Wellington GP Dr. Julian Foster. “But if you get the true flu, it can really make you feel very unwell, and put you out of circulation for a week or so. There also are some potential complications, like bacterial super infections and pneumonia. “For anybody with any sort of chronic illness like HIV, the risks to their health are minimised if they can avoid getting the flu,” Forster explains. “The flu shot gives you a good degree of protection against what is forecast to be the most common strains going around this winter.” The annual flu immunisation is fully subsidised for New Zealanders with HIV. Ref: GayNZ.com (m)