Winter Family Health & Preventive Care

Winter in the Illawarra tends to move fast. One day the family is fine, the next someone has a cough, a fever, or something that doesn't quite fit a cold but doesn't quite fit the flu either. This is the season when a straightforward GP check-in is worth more than most families realise.

At Crown West Medical in central Wollongong, we see the full range during winter: children who've had something going around school, adults who've been pushing through fatigue for too long, and older family members whose conditions need a closer watch when temperatures drop.

‍

What Happens at a Winter Family Health Check

A winter GP visit is not just about treating illness. It's a chance to get ahead of it.

For children, a GP will typically check growth and weight, vaccination status, any current symptoms, and whether there are any developing concerns parents have noticed. Winter is also the time to catch up on missed immunisations, particularly whooping cough and flu.

For adults, the focus shifts to cardiovascular markers (blood pressure tends to run higher in cold weather), respiratory symptoms, fatigue and mental health, and chronic condition management for anyone with diabetes, asthma, or heart disease.

For older patients, winter brings real risks. Falls, respiratory illness, and worsening of chronic conditions are all more common in colder months. A 75+ Health Assessment through Medicare is available to eligible patients and covers these areas in detail.

‍

Common Winter Health Habits That Slow Recovery

• Waiting too long before booking. Many symptoms are manageable early. Left longer, they're harder to treat.
• Returning to normal routines too quickly. Rest is part of recovery.
• Delaying vaccinations. Flu and whooping cough vaccines are most effective before peak season.
• Assuming children are fine because symptoms seem mild. Symptoms in children can escalate more quickly than in adults.

‍

When to Book — and When to Go Straight to Urgent Care

For most seasonal illness, a GP appointment at Crown West Medical is the right first call. If symptoms are severe — difficulty breathing, high fever that won't settle, chest pain — call 000 or go directly to emergency.

For after-hours care, Wollongong Radio Doctor provides bulk-billed home visits from 6pm Monday to Friday. Corrimal, Dapto, and Bulli also have urgent care clinics open seven days.

Vaccinations Available This Winter at Crown West Medical

• Influenza vaccine — updated for the 2026 season including the H3N2 Super-K variant
• COVID-19 booster — for eligible patients
• Whooping cough — particularly important for adults around newborns
• Pneumococcal — for eligible patients aged 65 and over, or those with chronic conditions
• RSV — for eligible older adults and during pregnancy

‍

Flu and COVID-19 vaccine-only appointments are bulk billed. Book via HotDoc or call (02) 4228 4155.

‍

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Do I need a reason to book a winter health check? A check-in appointment doesn't require a specific complaint. It's a chance to make sure the whole family is in good shape before the season peaks.

Q: Are flu vaccines available for children? Yes. The flu vaccine is recommended for all Australians aged 6 months and over. FluMist, a needle-free nasal spray, is free for NSW children aged 2 to 4 under the current NSW Health program.

Q: Can I get more than one vaccine at the same appointment? In most cases, yes. Your GP or nurse will advise on co-administration based on current ATAGI guidance.

Q: What's the best time to get the flu vaccine? ATAGI recommends getting the flu vaccine as soon as it's available each year, ideally before winter begins. If you haven't had it yet, it's still worth getting — protection takes about two weeks to develop.

Q: Is there Medicare bulk billing for these appointments? Flu and COVID-19 vaccine-only appointments are bulk billed at Crown West Medical. Standard GP consultations are privately billed, with bulk billing at the doctor's discretion for eligible patients.