Managing your condition
Ensuring your lung condition is well-managed and you're as well as possible is important. Read tips to manage your condition including connecting with your healthcare team and having an action plan in place.
With cases of COVID-19 in Australia growing rapidly, you may be feeling overwhelmed and anxious. There are measures you can put in place to protect yourself and your loved ones to live as well as possible during this time. We have summarised the latest key points from the federal government below.
Latest news and information
Vaccines and boosters
As winter approaches, it’s important to ensure you’re protected against the COVID-19 virus, particularly if you’re at risk of severe illness from the virus. If you haven’t received an initial booster dose and are currently eligible, speak to your GP about getting vaccinated. It’s also a great opportunity to discuss vaccination against influenza, and pneumococcal pneumonia if indicated, ahead of winter.
The Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) recommends an additional booster dose (a fourth dose) of a COVID-19 vaccine for groups who are greatest risk of severe illness from COVID-1 including:
- Adults aged 65 years and older
- Residents of aged care and disability care facilities
- People aged 16+ who are severely immunocompromised including those receiving immunosuppressive therapies.
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 50+.
The additional winter booster can be given 4 months or longer after receiving the first booster dose, or 4 months after contracting COVID-19 if you became infected after receiving the first COVID-19 booster dose. For more information, visit the Department of Health website here.
We’ve answered some of the most frequently asked questions about vaccines, staying well and what to do if you get COVID-19. Read more, here.
Home Medicines Service
The Home Medicines Service has been extended to 30 June 2022 for eligible Australians. This service is available for people in home isolation and other groups who wish to limit their potential exposure to COVID-19 including people with chronic health conditions or who are immunocompromised. To qualify for the Home Medicines Service, each delivery to an eligible person must include a Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme medicine and/or a Repatriation Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme medicine. You can order other items to be delivered to you from the pharmacy, including symptom relief, if it is part of the same order. Eligible people can receive the service no more than once per month.
For more information on eligibility and how to access the service, visit the Department of Health website here.
Being prepared
If you or your loved one is living with a lung condition, it is important to be prepared in the event of receiving a positive COVID-19 diagnosis. A plan may be developed with your treating healthcare team or GP and could include:
- Instruction (action plan) on the actions to take if your usual symptoms change or worsen
- Up-to-date prescriptions for both regular medications and emergency medications (if they are part of your plan)
- When to seek further medical care or call an ambulance.
This information was last updated Friday 25 March 2022.
Living with a lung condition in a COVID-19 world
Navigating life in a COVID-world can feel overwhelming and uncertain for anyone, but if you're living with a lung condition feelings of fear and anxiety are common. There are steps you can take to feel safe and stay as well as possible.
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Protecting yourself
There are measures that you can put in place in your day-to-day life to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 and keep yourself and your loved ones well.
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Your mind matters
It's normal to feel a range of emotions such as fear, frustration, anxiousness and a lose of confidence. Implementing simple practices in your day-to-day life can help you to manage your mental wellbeing and help you feel more in control.
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Keeping active at home
Regular exercise or movement is widely recognised as one of the best things you can do to improve your wellbeing and reduce symptoms such as breathlessness. If you’re not used to exercising at home it may feel a little strange and daunting and you might find it hard to stay motivated.
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Free door posters
Place this poster at the entry of a residence or workplace to help others identify that someone within the premises is living with a lung condition and requests that those entering undertake extra precautions.
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Resources to support you
We've developed a range of resources and information to help you during this time, including fact sheets, videos and webinars.
Have you had COVID-19?
We understand experiencing ongoing symptoms after contracting COVID-19 can be frightening. Our online COVID-19 Survivor and Support Group aims to connect people from right across the country to share their experiences to ensure no one feels alone on this journey. To find out more about the group, submit an expression of interest below and our team will be in touch.
Service update
Lungs in Action
Lung Foundation Australia is working directly with our Lungs in Action Instructors to ensure safety measures are in place to protect the health and wellbeing of our community. In states and regions which have little or no community transmission of COVID-19, face-to-face classes may have recommenced with an approved COVID Safe Plan. All Lungs in Action instructors are required to abide by State and Territory health advice and restrictions, some venues may be closed or operating at reduced capacity to accommodate COVID-safe guidelines. Please contact your Lungs in Action program to discuss availability and start dates. To find your nearest Lungs in Action group, please click here.
Lung Foundation Australia will communicate changes to the status of Lungs in Action classes via the Lung Foundation Australia website and social media channels. Please follow Lung Foundation Australia’s Facebook page to stay up to date.
Support groups
Lung Foundation Australia is working with our face-to-face support groups to ensure safety measures are in place to protect the health and wellbeing of our community. In states and regions which have little or no community transmission of COVID-19, face-to-face groups may be able to recommence, if an approved COVID Safe Plan is adopted. Lung Foundation Australia will communicate COVID-19 service updates on our Facebook page.
To find out more about our face-to-face, telephone and online peer support programs please click here.
Connect to care
During these times of uncertainty, it’s important to stay connected and informed. Lung Foundation Australia’s Information and Support Centre team are available to provide guidance and practical tips. We can connect you with resources and support services to help you during this time. You can reach our team during business hours via free call 1800 654 301.
