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2021 FLU VACCINES

GOVT FLU VACCINES: DHS has commenced the of supply to clinics. 

   Eligibility for the free flu vaccine 

2021 influenza vaccine funded eligible cohorts: 

·       children aged from six months to less than five years;  

·       Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged from six months; 

·       pregnant women (at any stage of pregnancy); 

·       adults aged 65 years and over;  

·       persons aged from six months who have certain medical conditions which increase the risk of influenza disease complications; for example, severe asthma, lung or heart disease, low immunity or diabetes.

Vaccine brands supplied and age restrictions: 

 - All vaccine brands are QIV. The dose of influenza vaccine for all ages is 0.5ml.
People aged 6 months to less than 5 years: Vaxigrip Tetra® (Sanofi Pasteur) Fluarix® Tetra (GSK)
People aged 5 years to less than 65 years: Vaxigrip Tetra® (Sanofi Pasteur) Fluarix® Tetra (GSK) Afluria® Quad (Seqirus)
People aged 65 years and older: Fluad® Quad (Seqirus)  

• Please book an appointment with the doctor if you are not eligible for the Govt Flu vaccine as you will require a prescription for the vaccine. An appointment with the nurse should be made to get the vaccine. PLEASE NOTE THERE SHOULD BE A GAP OF 2 WEEKS BETWEEN THE COVID VACINE AND OTHER VACCINES.

covid -19 GOVT COVID VACCINE PROGRAM

POUND ROAD MEDICAL CENTRE WILL BE PROVIDING COVID-19 VACCINES UNDER THE GOVT PROGRAM.

Medical Centres are supplied only with the Astra Zeneca brand. To get the Pfizer Covid Vaccine you must go to the Dept of Health website and book at one of the HUBS. 

Click on the link to book for a Covid Pfizer Vaccine:     https://www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/book-your-vaccine-appointment

PATIENTS WHO DO NOT HAVE A MEDICARE CARD CANNOT RECEIVE THE VACCINE AT THE CLINIC.

NEW PATIENTS WHO WOULD LIKE TO GET THE VACCINE FROM OUR CLINIC CAN CALL US AFTER 15TH APRIL 2021.

Phase 1b priority population groups WILL BE VACCINATED FIRST. PROOF OF ELIGIBILLITY MUST BE PROVIDED ON THE DAY. 

National Cabinet agreed to better utilise available AstraZeneca doses by bringing forward access for Phase 2a eligible individuals aged 50 to 69 years commencing with
Commonwealth, state and territory COVID-19 vaccination clinics on 3 May 2021, and general practices from 17 May 2021 (or earlier upon application to the Department of
Health).

PLEASE READ THE INFO RE: PREPARING FOR COVID-19 VACCINATION HERE: Information on COVID-19 Pfizer (Comirnaty) vaccine (health.gov.au)

PLEASE CLICK ON THE LINK TO CHECK YOUR ELIGIBILITY AND WHICH PHASE YOU WOULD BE INCLUDED IN: https://covid-vaccine.healthdirect.gov.au/eligibility
THE CLINIC WILL CONTACT YOU TO MAKE THE BOOKING. 

FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE VISIT THE DEPT OF HEALTH SITE. OR CLICK ON THIS LINK: https://www.health.gov.au/initiatives-and-programs/covid-19-vaccines/getting-vaccinated-for-covid-19/when-will-i-get-a-covid-19-vaccine

HEAD TO HELP

Since 14 September 2020, 15 HeadtoHelp services
have been scaling-up around Victoria to support Victorians’
mental health and wellbeing.

When a person calls HeadtoHelp on 1800 595 212, an experienced mental health professional will listen and work with them to find the best ways to get the help they need.

Depending on a person’s needs, they may:

• be connected with suitable existing services
• receive care at a HeadtoHelp hub, either onsite or through telehealth
• be connected to specialist or acute mental health services, including into emergency care.

For more information about HeadtoHelp services, CLICK HERE: https://headtohelp.org.au/about/

covid -19

Symptoms

If you have serious symptoms such as difficulty breathing, call 000 for urgent medical help.

Symptoms include:

• fever
• coughing
• sore throat
• fatigue
• shortness of breath

If you are sick and think you might have COVID-19, check your symptoms using healthdirect's Coronavirus (COVID-19) Symptom Checker.

healthdirect Coronavirus (COVID-19) Symptom Checker

Answer questions about your symptoms to see if you need to seek medical help or get tested. This tool is available online at any time.

Protect others and stop the spread

We can all help slow the spread of COVID-19 in Australia.

To protect others you must:

• practise good hygiene 
• practise social distancing
• follow the limits for public gatherings
• understand how to self-isolate if you need to

If you have a confirmed case, you must isolate yourself to stop the virus spreading to other people.

If you're concerned

You can call the National Coronavirus Helpline for information and advice about COVID-19.

National Coronavirus Helpline

Call this line if you are seeking information on coronavirus. The line operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

1800 020 080

View contact

Translating and Interpreting Service (TIS National)

TIS National is for people who do not speak English and for agencies and businesses that need to communicate with their non-English speaking clients.

131 450

Translating and Interpreting Service (TIS National)

PLease click on the link below for regular updates.

https://www.health.gov.au/news/health-alerts/novel-coronavirus-2019-ncov-health-alert

IRON INFUSIONS

We now provide Iron Infusions at our clinic. You will need to see your GP first and get a script. Then you are required to make a 10 min appointment with the doctor followed by a 40 min appointment with our Nurse Aroha. There is an out of pocket fee of $50.00 which is not refundable by Medicare.

Please talk to your doctor for more information.

active ingredient prescribing

Active Ingredient Prescribing is part of a wider government initiative to ensure consistent and standardised medicines information, to support safe and appropriate use of medicines. Consumers’ ability to identify a medicine’s active ingredient is critical for medicine safety.

The goal of Active Ingredient Prescribing is to help people understand what medicines they are taking. Under new medicine regulations, doctors must include the active ingredient names when preparing prescriptions for Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) and Repatriation PBS (RPBS) medicines. This will mean most medicines will be prescribed by their active ingredient, not the brand name.

For more info click here   https://www.pbs.gov.au/info/general/active-ingredient-prescribing
 

Speak to your GP for more info.

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Changes to pneumococcal vaccines for older and Indigenous Australians

Australians over 70 years and Indigenous Australians over 50 years may get a free pneumococcal vaccine.

From 1 July 2020, the last vaccine in the adult pneumococcal schedule will change. The vaccine 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide (PNB) will be 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate (PNT). Adult pneumococcal doses show as V01 on the AIR.