The health lessons we learned and lost after the COVID-19 pandemic

Every year, we ask ourselves how to prevent getting sick during winter. The fact is, we already have the solution – we learned it the hard way, during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Six years ago, we were taught to wash our hands thoroughly for 20 seconds at a time, even going underneath our fingernails. We made it a habit to cough into our elbows and maintain distance from each other, and even wear masks to prevent illnesses from spreading. 

If we were sick, it was mandatory to stay home and rest, not just to prevent illness from spreading but also for our own recovery.

One of the biggest challenges was preventing touching our own faces, with many of us coming to the realisation we do it entirely too much. 

But in six short years, it seems Aussies have forgotten the basic measures we were taught, attracting concern from health experts.

Kate Gunthorpe, pharmacist and health expert at TerryWhite Chemmart, told nine.com.au that during COVID, Australians “were top of mind with the best health practices for keeping the community safe from the spread of viruses”.

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“People stayed home at the first sign of symptoms, vaccination status was critical, and there was a strong collective awareness of protecting those vulnerable members of the community,” she said.

Now that time has run its course, Gunthorpe said a different pattern is emerging.

“Vaccine fatigue has set in, and much of that earlier health awareness has slowly decreased over the years,” she notes.

“In practice, this means more people are returning to work while unwell, often without their vaccinations up to date.

“Not only is this increasing the spread of sickness through the workplace, but we know there is an economic cost to this.” 

Absenteeism costs Aussie business over $7 billion a year in lost productivity, with 1.5 million workdays lost annually. 

From Gunthorpe’s perspective as a pharmacist, she can see why people are turning up to work while still ill, including due to workloads, limited sick leave and a sense of obligation to colleagues. 

But what many are not realising is that spreading illnesses could not only affect colleagues, but also their other vulnerable family members, such as those who are pregnant, have young kids, or have chronic health issues. 

Dr Zac Turner agrees, telling nine.com.au, “The reality is that even mild viral illnesses can spread quickly through workplaces and public transport, affecting many others.”

“Staying up to date with vaccinations, and staying home when you feel genuinely unwell, remains one of the most effective ways to protect both your health and your workplace,” Gunthorpe adds.