Episode 16: Things I Think About When I Think About Running.

In this episode, Kate Thomas, an AHPRA-registered pharmacist with 25 years of clinical experience, covers:

• The quiet rituals of early morning running and what shared physical spaces teach us about community
• The persistent myth that morphine hastens death in palliative care and what the evidence actually shows
• How opioids are used in palliative care to relieve pain and breathlessness with dignity
• Why addiction is not the concern people assume it is in end of life care
• The 2026 Australian influenza vaccine rollout and why flu vaccines change every year
• Why all flu vaccines are now trivalent and how Influvac, Flucelvax, Fluzone High-Dose and FluMist differ
• How individual healthcare decisions ripple outward and affect the people around us

One of the most persistent and harmful myths in healthcare is that morphine given at the end of life hastens death. In Episode 16, Kate draws on her direct experience in palliative care pharmacy to address this clearly and compassionately. Opioids in palliative care are carefully dosed to relieve pain, breathlessness and distress, not to shorten life. The evidence consistently shows that appropriate opioid use in end of life care does not accelerate death and in many cases may extend comfort and dignity. For families navigating palliative care decisions, this episode provides genuinely important reassurance grounded in real clinical experience. 

Concerns about addiction frequently prevent patients and families from accepting appropriate pain relief at the end of life, and Kate addresses this directly in Episode 16. In the context of palliative care, addiction is not the relevant clinical consideration. The goal is comfort, dignity and quality of remaining life, and opioids prescribed and monitored appropriately are one of the most effective tools available for achieving that. Understanding this distinction matters enormously for patients, families and the healthcare professionals supporting them. 

With winter approaching, Episode 16 includes a thorough and practical breakdown of the 2026 Australian flu vaccine rollout. Kate explains why influenza vaccines change every year, how the strains included are selected based on global surveillance, and why all vaccines are now trivalent rather than quadrivalent. The differences between the available options are covered clearly, including Influvac for standard adult use, Flucelvax as a cell-based alternative, Fluzone High-Dose for older adults and those at higher risk, and FluMist as the nasal spray option. For anyone trying to work out which flu vaccine is right for them or their family, this is essential listening. 

A quieter but powerful theme running through Episode 16 is the idea that healthcare decisions rarely affect just one person. Whether it is choosing to vaccinate, understanding what medications do in the body, or supporting someone through end of life care, every decision sits within a broader web of relationships and community. Kate reflects on this with characteristic warmth, connecting the sociology of a shared running track before sunrise to the much larger question of how we show up for each other in health and in life. 

If this episode has raised questions about medications, palliative care, the flu vaccine or any other health topic, a telehealth pharmacist consultation with Kate is a great next step. In a dedicated one-on-one session you can go through your questions, your current medications and your health concerns in plain language, without rushing.

Book a consultation with Kate Thomas.

You can view the transcript for this episode below