2024 Influenza Vaccination (09.04.2024)

- WE ARE NOW RUNNING FLU CLINCS -

GOVERNMENT-FUNDED VACCINES FOR ALL AGE GROUPS ARE NOW AVAILABLE

- FREE VACCINATION WILL BE AVAILABLE TO EVERYONE IN MAY AND JUNE - 

A vaccination clinic appointment is for the administration of vaccination only. If you have other issues you need to discuss, please make an appointment with your usual doctor. 

Annual vaccination is the most important measure to prevent influenza and its complications. It is recommended for all people 6 months of age and older. 

The Department of Health recommends vaccination be given at a time that will achieve the highest level of protection during the peak influenza season (typically from June to September in WA). However, in 2023, the onset of the influenza season in Western Australia was earlier than in previous years. The Department of Health is expecting this trend to continue in 2024.

Most people will develop immunity within two to three weeks of vaccination.  On this basis, we are currently recommending influenza vaccination from early April.

Influenza vaccination is particularly important for those considered most at risk. The National Immunisation Program or the WA Department of Health provides free influenza vaccines for people in the following high-risk groups:

• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged six months and over.

• Children aged six months to less than five years.

• Primary school-aged children (pre-primary to Year 6).

• Pregnant women (during any stage of pregnancy).

• People aged 65 years and over.

• People aged 6 months and over with certain medical conditions that increase their chance of severe influenza and its complications.

• Vulnerable persons aged 6 months and over (e.g., persons experiencing homelessness, residents in congregate living settings, such as residential aged care, disability care, mental health hostels and youth group houses).

You can receive your influenza vaccine at the same time as a COVID-19 vaccine; however, the influenza vaccine should not be delayed if you are not yet eligible for your COVID-19 booster.

To minimise the number of patients in the waiting room at one time, please do not arrive too early for your appointment; otherwise, you may be asked to wait in your car.

More information is available on the Department of Health website.

WA Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) (02.04.2024)

RSV is a common virus that can infect people of all ages. It can cause a range of respiratory illnesses from mild colds to severe conditions such as bronchiolitis, bronchitis and pneumonia.  RSV is the leading cause of infant hospitalisation in Australia.

The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) has approved nirsevimab (Beyfortus®). Nirsevimab is a monoclonal antibody that provides passive immunity against RSV for at least 5 months; it is an immunisation medicine, but not a vaccine. You can access information about nirsevimab here.

Eligibility for the RSV immunisation is limited to:

• WA infants born on or after 1st October 2023 to 30 April 2024 will be able to receive a single dose of nirsevimab.

• All high risk children (ATSI and medically at risk) aged 8 to 19 months entering their second RSV season.

• Nirsevimab will be offered at birth to all babies born in WA between 1st May and 30th September 2024; the highest period of RSV transmission in WA.

Click here for further information about RSV in infants and children.

COVID-19 Vaccine (18.12.2023)

Our practice is an approved COVID-19 vaccination site currently administering the Pfizer and Moderna XBB.1.5 Monovalent vaccines. 

Individuals 12 years and older are eligible to receive the Pfizer and Moderna XBB.1.5 Monovalent vaccine, and individuals 5 - 11 years and older are eligible to receive the Pfizer paediatric XBB.1.5.

These vaccines are available as a primary dose and as a booster dose.  

Click here for ATAGI recommendations on the use of the Pfizer and Moderna monovalent Omicron XBB.1.5 COVID-19 vaccines. 

Please visit our COVID-19 Vaccine page for more information.

MyMedicare

We registered for MyMedicare – now you can too

Burton Street Family Practice has joined thousands of healthcare providers across Australia in registering in MyMedicare, a new voluntary registration system that will help us formalise the relationship between us and our patients.

MyMedicare allows you to nominate a general practice and general practitioner as your regular healthcare provider. When you register in MyMedicare, extra funding from the Australian Government becomes available to support our practice to provide more of the targeted care you need.

Patients who register with our practice in MyMedicare may benefit from:

• Longer MBS-funded telephone consultations, from 1 November 2023

• Longer bulk-billed telehealth consultations for children under 16 and Commonwealth concession card holders at the new triple bulk billing rate from 1 November 2023.

• More regular visits from their GP and better care planning for people living in a Residential Aged Care Home, from August 2024.

• Connections to more appropriate care in general practice for people with chronic conditions who visit hospitals frequently, from mid-2024.

Formalising the patient-practice relationship, like with MyMedicare, has been shown to improve health and well-being, and that is why we are inviting all of our regular patients to register in MyMedicare. 

If you have a valid Medicare card or Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA) Veteran card and have had two face-to-face consultations with us in the last 24 months, you are eligible for MyMedicare.

Registration is easy. To register as a MyMedicare patient, you can:

• Fill out a paper registration form at our practice or download one here.

• Complete the registration process in your Medicare Online Account.

• Ask our team to start the registration process – you can then complete registration in your Medicare Online Account.

  Ask about MyMedicare next time you talk to us. Click here to download resources.