Welcome to our August newsletter. We hope you are all staying well and safe out there during our second month of lockdown. In this month’s newsletter we will be giving you some tips on how to look after your physical and psychological health during a pandemic, update you on the YFD Covid Vaccination role out, introducing you to our new doctors and much more…….
COVID TESTING ON THE CENTRAL COAST
We encourage anyone with cough/cold symptoms such as a cough, fever, runny nose or sore throat to get tested for Covid-19. The more people we test, the more we can stop the spread!
For Covid testing areas on the Central Coast follow these links ……..
https://peoplebank.hneccphn.com.au/covid-testing-cc
https://www.nsw.gov.au/…/health-and-wellbeing/clinics…
For NSW health latest COVID updates ……
https://www.nsw.gov.au/covid-19/latest-news-and-updates…
Please don’t attend our practice if you have been to any hot spot areas, identified yourself as a close or casual contact to anyone with COVID-19 or have any cough/cold symptoms. Get a covid test instead! Telehealth appointments are available.
YFD COVID VACCINATION UPDATE
Two doses of either COVID-19 vaccine provides over 90% prevention of hospitalisation and death from COVID-19
At YFD we have the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine available. We do not have the Pfizer vaccine. Appointments can be made online via hot doc or by calling reception.
If you are 60 years and over and have not yet been vaccinated, we recommend you book a COVID-19 vaccination appointment with your doctor now.
If you have had your 1st Dose of AstraZeneca, it is recommended in hotspot areas to have your second AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine dose 4-8 weeks after your first dose. Please call reception if you would like to bring your second dose forward. At YFD we are currently booking second dose vaccines at 6 weeks. This will give you protection sooner.
If you are aged 40-59 years, have not yet been vaccinated and are unable to obtain an appointment for the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine, please discuss your circumstances with your GP and book an appointment for the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine.
If you are aged 18-39 years and wish to get the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine you are encouraged to talk to your GP prior to booking an appointment for the AstraZeneca Vaccine so an informed decision can be made based on an understanding of the risks and benefits.
To check your eligibility and to book an appointment at a location near you, visit the Australian Government eligibility checker. More locations are being added regularly so check back to find a clinic near you https://covid-vaccine.healthdirect.gov.au/eligibility?lang=en
Resources
LOOKING AFTER YOUR HEALTH DURING ANOTHER COVID LOCKDOWN
As we find ourselves in another lockdown due to the Covid-19 pandemic, we need to make sure we continue to prioritise our health. Lockdowns not only affect our mental wellbeing, but also our physical health, with disruption to our healthy lifestyle routines and regular health checks .
It looks like Covid-19 is here to stay for a while until we get more of our population vaccinated. In the meantime, here are some tips to try and keep us healthy and happy in the face of another lockdown.
READ MORE HERE……….
Looking after your Health during another Covid Lockdown
RESOURCES
https://health.gov.au – Choose Health: Be Active – a physical activity guide for older Australians
https://www.eatforhealth.gov.au/guidelines – Australian Dietary Guidelines
https://coronavirus.beyondblue.org.au/managing-my-daily-life.html
Beyond Blue Coronavirus Mental Wellbeing Support Service 1800512348
Lifeline 131114
Suicide Call Back Service 1300 659467
https://yourfamilydoctors.com.au/looking-after-your-health-during-another-covid-lockdown/
WORLD BREASTFEEDING WEEK (August 1st – 7th)
Breastfeeding is a team effort. When a mother is supported breastfeeding improves. If you are having difficulties with breastfeeding please speak to your friendly GP, child and family health nurse, lactation consultant or the Australian Breastfeeding Association (ABA).
At YFD we are very lucky to have our own lactation consultant and child and family health nurse Lynne Campey. Lynne is available for appointments on Thursdays and Fridays. 😀
The ABA runs the National Breastfeeding Helpline 1800 mum 2 mum (1800 686 268). The Breastfeeding Helpline is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. You can also download the ABA mum2mum app.
https://www.breastfeeding.asn.au
HELP PROTECT THE WORLD AGAINST COVID-19
To date, the COVID-19 pandemic has devastatingly led to the death of over 4 million people globally. Many of those living in high income countries can now access free COVID-19 vaccinations, with many lower income countries yet to receive a single dose.
We are very fortunate in Australia to have access to free COVID-19 vaccinations. Unfortunately those living in third world countries are less fortunate and are not offered free vaccination by their governments.
If you have already received your free COVID-19 vaccine why not give back by paying forward! Some developed countries already have at least 50% of their people fully vaccinated; whereas the vaccine uptake in the 2/3 world (eg Asia, Pacific, Africa) of over 5 billion people is well under 5 %.
The Immunisation Coalition is calling on recipients of covid vaccine to donate to UNICEF* (tax deductible) so that the whole world can be protected. By giving just $5, another deserving person can be fully vaccinated in a low-income country. $200 could vaccinate 40 people!
https://fundraise.unicef.org.au/t/immunisationcoalition
STAFF NEWS
We are excited to welcome two new doctors to the YFD team – Dr Abigail Fox and Dr Nicholas Young. We know it has been difficult over the last few months to get timely appointments with our doctors so this means there will be more doctors available to care for you. Due to high numbers of patients on our books we are still unable accept new patients at this stage, except for close family members.
Dr Abigail Fox
Dr Abigail Fox completed her medical studies in 2016 at the University of Sydney followed by hospital training at Concord Hospital and GP training in Sydney. She has particular interests in paediatrics, preventative health and caring for the LGBTQI community. Abbi enjoys the variety of general practice and aims to deliver quality care to patients of all ages. Outside of work she enjoys exploring the beautiful NSW coastline
Dr Nicholas Young
Dr Nicholas Young is a graduate of Griffith University, Queensland (2016). He completed his hospital training at the Gold Coast University Hospital, Westmead and St Vincent’s Hospitals in Sydney, before deciding to begin a career in General Practice. He would like to build upon a strong foundation of general practice skills in this community, particularly with children, as seen by having completed the Sydney Child Health Program Diploma (2019). In his spare time he pretends to know lots about music and is a keen (yet average) surfer.
So that’s it for our August Newsletter, stay safe everyone and we will be back soon with more news. In the meantime like us on facebook or instagram to keep up to date with the latest Covid changes, important health information and to see what the YFD team has been up to. Our website is also a great source of information, so please check out our blog for health information written by our team. Stay well.
Love Team YFD xx
