COVID-19 Information

How do I book a COVID-19 vaccine?

Vaccination Clinics will be run by the Practice in line with stock availability. Please contact the Practice via phone to book your appointment, or to be added to our Wait List for future appointment times. Vaccinations cannot be booked via our online booking system.

What conditions are considered an underlying medical condition?

Underlying medical conditions include:

• organ transplant recipients who are on immune suppressive therapy
• people who have had a bone marrow transplant in the last 24 months
• people on immune suppressive therapy for graft versus host disease
• people who have haematological cancers, for example, leukaemia, lymphoma or myelodysplastic syndrome, diagnosed within the last 5 years
• people having chemotherapy or radiotherapy
• people with chronic renal (kidney) failure
• people with heart disease such as coronary heart disease or failure
• people with chronic lung disease, excluding mild or moderate asthma
• people who have a non-haematological cancer, diagnosed in the last 12 months
• people who have diabetes
• people with severe obesity, with a Body Mass Index of 40 or over
• people with chronic liver disease
• people with some neurological conditions including stroke and dementia
• people with some chronic inflammatory conditions and treatments
• people with other primary or acquired immunodeficiency, including HIV
• people with poorly controlled blood pressure

Why should I get vaccinated for COVID-19?

COVID-19 can cause serious ongoing health conditions, and sometimes death. Immunisation is a safe and effective way of protecting you and your family. Immunisation helps protect others, especially those who may not be able to be immunised themselves. When you get immunised, you protect yourself as well as helping to protect the whole community.

Why do we need vaccines if we are already wearing masks and practicing social distancing?

The measures we’ve put in place so far such as border restrictions, quarantine, mask wearing, hand washing, physical distancing, and testing help to protect all Queenslanders and will continue to be important to control the spread of the virus and its effects on the community. But we don’t want to live under restrictions forever. The COVID-19 vaccine is the best way to protect people long-term against severe COVID-19 disease.

Are there other benefits to getting vaccinated?

Getting vaccinated helps protect the vulnerable in our society who can’t get vaccinated themselves because they are too young, or too sick. This is because widespread vaccination makes it more difficult for the disease to spread. Also, the less the disease spreads, the less likely it is that new, possibly more infectious or dangerous mutations will arise.

Is it compulsory to be vaccinated?

Australians have a great record in being immunised. The COVID-19 vaccine will be voluntary, universal and free. If a safe and effective vaccine becomes available for COVID-19, the Government aims to have as many Australians as possible choose to be vaccinated for COVID-19. If people choose not to have a COVID-19 vaccine, this will not affect their family’s eligibility for Family Tax Benefit Part A or childcare fee assistance which only includes National Immunisation Program vaccines for those aged under 20 years.

Who will receive the vaccine?

The Australian Government is committed to providing all Australians with access to safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines as soon as they are available, to those who wish to vaccinate against COVID-19.

Booster Vaccinations are now available for eligible patients.

First Dose Vaccinations may be available for children aged 5 -12 years old, from January 10th, 2022. Please contact the Practice via phone to book your appointment, or to be added to our Wait List for future appointment times. Vaccinations cannot be booked via our online booking system.

How much will the vaccine cost?

COVID-19 vaccines will be free for all Australian citizens, permanent residents and temporary visa-holders as per the Australian COVID-19 Vaccination Policy.

How has a vaccine been rolled out so fast?

Usually when a vaccine is developed it is done is a very linear fashion – one step, after another. There has been an enormous amount of resources and money thrown into the research, development and testing of the Covid-19 vaccines so that many of these steps could take place simultaneously. There has been no compromise on safety.

If I get the vaccine, what side effects can I expect?

You may experience minor side effects following vaccination. Most side effects last no more than a couple of days and you will recover without any problems. Common reactions to vaccination include: pain, redness and/or swelling where you received the needle and mild fever. Serious reactions like allergic reactions are extremely rare.

Can I get the vaccine if I’m planning to get pregnant, pregnant, or breastfeeding?

At this stage, COVID-19 vaccines are not routinely recommended to be given during pregnancy as there is limited experience with the use of COVID-19 vaccines in pregnant women. If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, think you may be pregnant, or are planning to have a baby, ask your doctor for advice before you receive this vaccine. If you are planning a pregnancy, ask your doctor for advice before you receive this vaccine.

How effective are the COVID-19 vaccines?

The results from the clinical trials to date have shown both the AstraZeneca and Pfizer vaccines to be effective in providing protection against COVID-19. If as many people as possible are immunised against COVID-19, regardless of which vaccine they have, this will make a significant difference in keeping everyone safe.

What vaccine will I get?

You won’t be able to choose which vaccine you receive. Our Practice is currently administering only Pfizer Vaccinations to our patients.

What is in the vaccine?

Once vaccines are approved by the TGA, their specific ingredients are listed in the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods.