ATAGI recommends an additional booster dose of COVID-19 vaccine to increase vaccine protection before winter for selected population groups who are at greatest risk of severe illness from COVID-19 and who have received their primary vaccination and first booster dose. These groups are:

• Adults aged 65 years and older
• Residents of aged care or disability care facilities
• People aged 16 years and older with severe immunocompromise (as defined in the  ATAGI statement on the use of a 3rd primary dose of COVID-19 vaccine in individuals who are severely immunocompromised)
• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 50 years and older.

The additional winter booster dose can be given from 4 months or longer after the person has received their first booster dose, or from 4 months after a confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection, if infection occurred since the person’s first COVID-19 booster dose.

ATAGI recommends that the rollout of the additional booster dose for these groups starts from April 2022, coinciding with the rollout of the 2022 influenza vaccination program.

Influenza vaccine can be co-administered with the additional booster dose of COVID-19 vaccine. However, if a person is not yet eligible for their additional booster dose, influenza vaccine could be given ahead of the additional booster dose.

Government funded Flu Vaccines will be available from Tuesday, 26th April 2022 for our patients who are:

* Children aged 6months to under 5 yrs
* Pregnant women
* Aged 65 years or older
* Aged 6 months or older with eligible chronic health conditions
* Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients aged 6 months or older

Private Flu Vaccines are also available to patient who do not fit the above criteria.

Please call our reception  on 6584 5244 to book an appointment

We will continue to be a part of your healthcare team and ask that you help us to help you by reading and using this resource I have COVID, the infection.  Now what?

If you are unvaccinated, have had only one vaccine, are severely immunocompromised or pregnant, please let us know ASAP (book an urgent telehealth consultation) as there are specific management pathways we may need to facilitate

• please take the time to read through the information on I have Covid, the infection.  Now what? and commence the Symptom Diary
• all consultations will be done via telehealth
  • if we need to escalate care to face-to-face, we will be able to direct you to an appropriate resource, such as a  The Respiratory Clinic or emergency department

     Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine for children aged 5 to 11 years –  information for parents and guardians   

The TGA has granted approval for the Pfizer vaccine to be administered to children from age 5 and up.   ATAGI have authorised a lower dose of the vaccine (1/3 of the adult dose) to be given 8 weeks apart, from January 10, 2022.  Appointments can be made by calling our reception team on 5507 9600

Please be patient with our team, they are experiencing a large volume of calls and are doing the absolute best they can

Please book your second appointment when you book your first.

IMPORTANT MESSAGE!

Please click on the link below for the vaccination consent form

Consent form and information about Covid-19 vaccination for children aged 5-11 

The Christmas/New year holidays will be here before we know it

We want to advise our patients that the practice will be closed from midday on Friday, 24th December & will re open on Tuesday 4th January 2022

Please remember to update your scripts!

For any urgent medical care whilst the practice is closed, patients can attend the Port Macquarie Base Hospital Emergency department or call an ambulance on 000

The reality is that Medicare rebates do not cover the cost of providing you with a safe and high-quality service. The fees charged by this practice have to cover all of our practice costs including employing receptionists and practice nurses, and meeting our operating expenses such as rent, medical equipment, electricity, computers and insurance.

It is not possible for the practice to meet costs without this change.

As of today 8th November 2021,  the practice will now be charging you a fee for consultations as per our practice policy.

Our software allows for on the spot processing through Medicare and in most cases, if you have provided Medicare with your bank details, the rebate will be back in your bank account within 24hrs.

Alternatively, if you have an EFTPOS card with Cheque or Savings, we can put the rebate in instantly, please discuss with our reception team for more information.

COVID-19 UPDATE

As from 6pm Saturday anyone entering the practice will be required to wear a mask for the duration of your time with us

 Please sanitise your hands upon entry

 If you have travelled to any of the current hot spots in Sydney in the past 14 days please notify us to reschedule your appointment or by offering a phone consultation with your GP

 If you have ANY cold or flu like symptoms please DO NOT enter the practice, the health & safety of our staff, patients & yourselves is our top priority!

 Please come to your appointment alone as we will have strict social distancing in place and cannot allow for extra friends, family or children

Let’s all work together to stay safe and healthy to hopefully prevent things getting worse for our community

Thank you & stay safe