More than 43,000 vaccines have been delivered to general practitioners and councils around Tasmania as part of the Government’s expanded meningococcal disease vaccination program.
Public Health Services vaccinated over 5000 at the Derwent Entertainment Centre public clinic last weekend and another clinic will be held at the DEC next weekend – August 18 and 19. Bookings will open for that clinic mid-next week.
Public clinics will also be held in the state’s North and North-West in October. However, there is no need to wait for clinics – eligible Tasmanians can receive a free vaccine from GPs and authorised pharmacist immunisers.
General practitioners and local councils are already delivering additional clinics, with the distribution of vaccines to GPs being statewide, including regional areas.
Authorised pharmacist immunisers have now been trained to deliver the meningococcal ACWY vaccine and will begin vaccinations to eligible Tasmanians over the age of 10 next week.
There has been tremendous cooperation from all sectors to help deliver the public health program, which is in response to recent cases of meningococcal W disease in Hobart’s northern suburbs.
The assistance of general practitioners, pharmacists and local government to ensure this program is successfully delivered is very much appreciated.
It remains important for the public to be aware of the symptoms of meningococcal disease, such as fever, severe headache, severe muscle pain, and quickly becoming unusually unwell. Late in the illness, there can be a rash. Infants can be lethargic, floppy and feed poorly.
Anyone who is concerned they may be showing symptoms of meningococcal disease should seek emergency medical care.
Further information is available online at http://www.health.tas.gov.au and this website is constantly updated with information about the program and free clinics. If you need further assistance, you can contact the Public Health Hotline on 1800 671 738.