News July 2017

July 1, 2017

FLU VACCINATIONS

We still have a supply of private and Government funded flu vaccines available.

The flu vaccine is provided at no charge under the National Immunisation Program for people aged 65 years and over, ATSI people under 5 years of age or over 15 years of age, pregnant women, and people with an eligible chronic disease (such as asthma or diabetes). For further information, or to book an appointment, please speak with your doctor or to one of our reception team.

SHINGLES VACCINE

What is Shingles?

Shingles is a condition that is caused by the same virus that causes chickenpox. The Department of Health reports that as many as 1 in 3 people will develop shingles over their lifetime, and the risk increases with age. It is possible to get shingles more than once.

Shingles present as a painful rash that develops into itchy blisters that may take weeks to settle.

Preventing Shingles

There is no way to predict whether or not you may develop shingles, or how severe it will be. There is currently no cure for shingles, however, there is now a vaccine available that may help to prevent shingles from occurring. The vaccine is called “ZostaVax” and is available for people aged 50 years and over. Under the National Immunisation Program, this vaccine is provided at no charge to people aged between 70 – 79 years of age. For those not eligible for the funded vaccine, it may be purchased via prescription from a pharmacy for approximately $200.00 – $250.00 per dose.

MAKE AN APPOINTMENT

In an emergency please call '000'.

Every effort is made to keep appointments running to time, however, due to the unpredictable nature of our work this is not always possible. Patients are encouraged to contact us prior to an appointment to check that the schedule is running to time.

Please give thought to the amount of time your appointment may require. If there are multiple or complex issues that need discussion, please let reception know when booking your appointment so that sufficient time can be allocated with the doctor.