Paediatric Vaccinations
We provide all childhood vaccinations that are free to holders of Medicare cards.
The Practice Nurses are immunisation accredited providers and continually attend update courses on the changing paediatric vaccination schedule.
Currently babies are immunised against Hepatitis B at the hospital on the day of their birth. They then have vaccinations at 6 weeks, 4 months and 6 months and then at 12 months, 18 month and 4 years of age.
Adolescents receive vaccinations primarily via their schools but catch up vaccinations can occur at the surgery.
Pertussis Vaccination and Illness – Whooping Cough
Whooping cough or Pertussis rates in Australia in 2011 reached a 20 year high with over 38,500 cases being diagnosed.
Sadly several babies died from complications of whooping cough often caught from unvaccinated adults affected with pertussis. This has led to a change in the immunisation schedule with infants being vaccinated at 6 weeks, 4 months and 6 months.
Flu Vaccine and Influenza
As many of our patients travel on public transport, work in large air conditioned offices and travel frequently on planes they are at elevated risk of influenza and so we recommend and provide the annual influenza vaccine.
Immunity decreases over time and vaccination is needed each year to ensure you continue to be protected. Vaccination is recommended in autumn to allow time for immunity to be strengthened before the flu season starts.
