Your Family Doctors is participating in the government funded Covid-19 Vaccination rollout, delivering the AstraZeneca vaccine to our patients. So far we have been vaccinating our patients in the Phase 1B priority groups. As of 17th May those in phase 2A (all adults over 50 years) will also be eligible to receive the COVID 19 vaccine.
At this stage we have only been allocated 50 vaccinations per week so we have been prioritising our patients over the age of 80, followed by our 70 – 79 year olds. If you are eligible for Phase 1B and 2A and are eager to get your vaccination earlier than we can offer you there is the option of booking online into the Coast and Country Respiratory Clinic COVID 19 Vaccine clinic just up the road from our practice https://www.hotdoc.com.au/medical-centres/erina-NSW-2250/erina-respiratory-clinic/doctors
We are getting many questions about the AstraZeneca vaccine and safety so we hope the following information helps answer some of these questions…..
⭐️The AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine is very effective in preventing severe disease and death due to COVID-19 in adults of all ages.
⭐️There have been very rare reports of a condition called Thrombosis with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome (TTS) associated with the AstraZeneca vaccination. This involves the formation of blood clots (thrombosis) and low levels of platelets (thrombocytopenia) about 4 – 20 days after vaccination and can occur in the brain (called a cerebral venous sinus thrombosis) and abdomen. This condition is very rare (4 – 6 cases per million doses) but can be serious and lead to death. At this stage there has not been any specific risk factors confirmed for TTS but it has been reported to be more common in the younger population (e.g. age under 50).
⭐️The Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) have recommended that currently the use of the Pfizer vaccine is preferred over the AstraZeneca vaccine in adults under 50 years of age who have not already received their first dose of AstraZeneca vaccine. At this stage we do not know when the Pfizer vaccine will be available to this age group.
⭐️The benefits of vaccination with the AstraZeneca vaccine outweigh the risks for older adults (50 years and older) and those with increased risk of exposure to COVID-19 (e.g. through employment or overseas travel).
⭐️Please check with the regularly updated government website and your doctor if you have more questions about COVID-19 vaccinations to help you make informed decisions (the following link is a great resource too!)
If you are an existing patient of our practice you can book for your Covid-19 vaccine online using our hot doc app or by calling reception on 43654999.
For more information on how you can prepare for your Covid-19 Vaccine …….