The message the Alfred ICU director wants Victorians to hear

The intensive care boss at The Alfred Hospital says the community “needs to be aware” that health workers are working extremely hard to provide care during the pandemic, and getting a booster is the best thing Victorians can do to help ease the strain on the system.

Director of ICU at The Alfred, Steve McLaughlin, says the hospital been able to keep up high care standards for patients, but it’s come at a cost for workers.

“We’ve always provided the nurse for every patient, all the staff we need to look after all the patients in intensive care, but that has come at the cost of people working extremely hard,” he told Neil Mitchell.

“I think the community needs to be aware of that.”

Associate Professor McLaughlin says getting a booster COVID-19 vaccine as soon as possible is the best thing Victorians can do to protect themselves and to ease the pressure on the health system.

“There are people in intensive care that have had two shots, even a few people with three shots, but when you look at the overwhelming millions of people vaccinated in Victoria — and the proportion of people coming into ICU — it’s extremely clear that vaccination is protective, especially once you’ve had that third shot,” he said.

“That would be one message, if I could get that out today, to get that booster shot in pace.

“If you’re immunosuppressed obviously there’s a bit more nuance to the advice, even about getting a fourth shot if you’ve got significant immunosuppression.”

Press PLAY below to hear about how The Alfred ICU is coping