This week is World Immunization Week – a global public health campaign run by The World Health Organization (WHO) that takes place every year during the last week of April, with the goal of raising awareness about the importance of vaccination in protecting people of all ages against preventable diseases.
This year, the them is ‘The Big Catch-Up’. According to The World Health Organization (WHO), the pandemic saw essential immunization levels decrease in over 100 countries, leading to rising outbreaks of measles, diphtheria, polio and yellow fever. The WHO is working together with organizations to help countries catch-up on immunization programs that may have been disrupted during the COVID-19 pandemic. The aim is to restore immunization coverage to pre-pandemic levels and strengthen primary healthcare systems.
In Bondi, we can all help support immunization efforts by:
- Staying up to date on NSW vaccination schedules and ensuring that you and your family are vaccinated against preventable diseases.
- Encouraging others to get vaccinated by sharing accurate information about the safety and effectiveness of vaccines.
- Support organizations working to improve immunization coverage by donating money, time, or resources.
- Participate in local immunization campaigns or events and encourage others to do the same.
- Educate yourself and others about the importance of primary healthcare and the role it plays in delivering immunization.
The key vaccines for this Winter season to consider are:
- Influenza vaccines – this is free for:
- children aged from 6 months to under 5 years of age
- people with serious health conditions (including severe asthma, diabetes, cancer, immune disorders, obesity, kidney, heart, lung or liver disease)
- pregnant women
- Aboriginal people from 6 months of age
- people who are 65 years of age and over
- Covid-19 Booster vaccine:
- All adults can get a booster if it’s been 6 months or longer since their last COVID-19 booster or confirmed infection (whichever is most recent) for additional protection against severe illness from COVID.
- This is particularly recommended for people at higher risk of severe illness, including:
- everyone 65 years and over
- everyone 18 years and over with medical comorbidities, disability or complex health needs.
Children and young people aged 5 to 17 years can get a booster dose if:
- they have a health condition that put them at risk of severe illness, and
- if it’s been 6 months since their last dose or COVID-19 infection.
- Whooping (Pertusis) Cough vaccine:
- Whooping cough vaccines are usually given at 6-8 weeks, 4 months and 6 months of age.
- A booster is given at 18 months, 4 years, 12 years in the NSW School Vaccination Program; and
- A booster is recommended at 50 years of age.
- All adults aged over 65 years of age require a booster dose if 10 years have passed since their last dose.
- If you are unsure, please discuss your vaccination needs with our Surry Hills doctor.
- Pneumococcal vaccine: A single dose of pneumococcal vaccine is recommended for adults ≥70 years of age.
- Adults who have not received a dose at 65 years of age should have a single catch-up dose as soon as possible.
- Adults who have a medical condition (for example, cardiac, liver and congenital diseases) are at risk of catching this disease and should discuss this with their doctor as soon as possible as they may require additional vaccinations to ensure that they are adequately protected.
At Ocean Medical Practice Bondi, NSW health vaccines can be administered by our Bondi Road Doctors and Nurses. The above list of vaccines is not an exhaustive list, rather a list to consider for the winter seasons.
In addition, we also keep travel vaccinations and Yellow Fever Vaccines if you are considering travel to an at risk area.
