Novel CoronaVirus Update 25 April 2021

Getting Vaccinated – M Kelly

Two Covid-19 vaccines are initially being rolled out in Australia. Pfizer – (40 Million doses ordered) and Astrazeneca (up to 50 Million doses ordered) . Both are very safe for people 55 years and older.

Astrazeneca for people over 50-55 yrs

For our age group , who are at very high risk from Covid-19, the ASTRAZENECA vaccine is both effective and extremely safe. More than 10 million people >55 years of age have received this vaccine in the UK, without any related deaths from clotting issues in this group.

Pfizer for people under 50-55 yrs

The benefit-to-risk ratio is quite different for people under 50 years of age, who have a much stronger immune response, and thus are at much lower risk from Covid-19. This is especially true for young females, not one of whom aged under 50 has died from Covid-19 in Australia. Over-strong immune responses to the Astrazeneca vaccine can cause a severe and often fatal form of clotting/bleeding side effect in 10-20 per million people younger than 50 -55 years of age. Therefore it is medically recommended that our children and grandchildren under ~50 years of age should only receive the Pfizer vaccine, which has been administered to over 100 Million people of all ages in the US, without any known related serious clotting problem.

Getting our Astrazeneca jabs:

Astrazeneca jabs are now available from many local general practices with a modest waiting time. If your own medical practice is short on Covid vaccine slots, then a recently opened mass vaccination centre at the Austin Hopsital may be helpful:

https://www.austin.org.au/COVID-19-vaccination/

The Austin clinic is open 8am to 8pm 7 days a week (except public holidays). Bookings are encouraged to help manage demand. To make an appointment call the Victorian Department of Health Vaccination Call Centre on 1800 675 398.

Walk-in appointments are available Monday to Friday from 9am-4pm, however there may be wait times during peak periods.

The vaccination clinic is located at the Heidelberg Repatriation Hospital in the Acacia Room. (See attached map) Free car parking is available via Gate 7A on the Corner of Waterdale Road and Bell Street. Security staff will direct you to this area if you let them know you are here for your COVID-19 vaccination. Once parked, follow the marked pathway to the COVID-19 Vaccination Clinic.