Dr Mamaeroa David on protecting against winter illness

A senior doctor is urging people to get vaccinated, even if it means paying for it, as winter illnesses spread.

Data shows rhinovirus is dominating illnesses picked up in primary care, while hospitalisations are being driven by RSV, influenza and Covid-19.

Dr Mamaeroa David, a senior Maori medical advisor with the Immunisation Advisory Centre and an Auckland GP, told Morning Report on Tuesday her three kids were "getting hit with a whole lot of snot germs" before the school holidays.

"We're very glad to have that little reprieve over the school holidays. But the cold has set in good and proper now and it's escalating all the respiratory diseases this winter.

"I just had a look at the PHF Science website last night, and the rhinovirus was chugging along nicely even before the school holidays…

"So we've got cold and flu viruses, adeno, rhino, those are the like, snotty but happy children. But RSV and flu viruses, our kiddies get a little bit more sicker with that, and adults as well. Adults do get sick from those, and RSV is definitely starting to increase."

While rhinovirus dominated positive tests, hospitalisations were led far and away by RSV.

New Zealand has one of the world's highest rates of serious illness caused by RSV, and experts have been calling for a national childhood prevention programme to be set up.

A recent trial in Australia of administering vaccinations to women of childbearing age and giving newborns doses of Beyfortus, a long-acting monoclonal antibody injection (a short-lasting form of passive immunisation), nearly halved hospitalisations from the virus ahead of the winter peak. Beyfortus does not teach the immune system how to recognise the virus like a vaccine would, according to the US Centers for Disease Control.

In New Zealand, a vaccine is available for older people - Arexvy - but it is not funded, and can cost several hundred dollars.

Even vaccines that are available and cheap - such as that for this year's influenza - are not being taken up numbers health officials would like.

"We're still lagging in our flu vaccination rates," David said. "I'm telling everybody, you know, I think the flu hasn't kicked in. I think this current burst of respiratory diseases is RSV-related mostly.

"That is not a funded vaccine for the elderly. You can pay for it. So anyone who's having a birthday or early Christmas present… tell your kids to pay for your Arexvy vaccine.

"Flu is funded for over 65 and for people with other comorbidities. So definitely go and see if you're funded for flu.

"If you're not funded for flu vaccine, only $24 from most outlets - Chemist Warehouse, et cetera. So it's a bit of advertising for our vaccine providers, but you know, I don't think the flu's hit yet, but it is coming. So you've still got time to get your immunisation."

If you do get sick, David said there are new rapid antigen tests (RATs or RAT tests) which can tell you which illness it is.

"We used to do it just for Covid, but you do have multi-RATs now that test for influenza A and B and RSV, respiratory syncytial virus… and Covid of course, there's the four on there. That can be really useful to let you know what you have and so you're not getting antibiotics for a virus.

"So if you're trying to get a GP appointment to get some antibiotics… antibiotics are for bacterial infections, not for viruses. And so you won't be getting antibiotics for your virus illness."