COVID VACCINE INFORMATION
All current information will be updated on this page. Please read all information on this page before calling us.
Please call us if you want either the Covid Vax or Fluvax, we are having vaccination clinics every day.
Note: Notification of Vaccination is sent to the Immunisation Register but may take 2 days to be registered. It can be viewed via your MyGov account, or Medicare Plus app.
People wanting the vaccine injection can then book for the vaccine clinic OR if patients have questions they must book an appointment with the doctor before booking for the vaccination injection. This can be a telephone appointment. Staff are not permitted to give medical advice.
Patients wanting both Fluvax and Covid Vaccine should note that the Covid vaccine is given first and then the Fluvax can be given later after 7 days have elapsed.
UPDATE FROM ATAGI:
individuals aged 18 years and older may receive a booster (third dose), at least six months after the completion of a COVID-19 vaccine primary series. This primary series can be of any of the COVID-19 vaccines registered for use in Australia,
a third dose may be given to severely immunocompromised people aged 12 years and over at least 28 days after the second dose, or 2 to 6 months after the second dose.
Prior to having the Vaccine you should read this : Covid Vaccine Checklist
PFIZER AND ASTRAZENECA VACCINE INFORMATION
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You may experience side effects after vaccination. Common side effects reported after vaccination in people aged 12 + include:
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pain at the injection site
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tiredness
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headache
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muscle pain
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chills
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joint pain
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fever
If you experience side effects, you can take paracetamol to reduce these symptoms. These symptoms may include:
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pain at the injection site
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headache
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muscle pain
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joint pain
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chills.
QUESTIONAIRRE PRIOR TO HAVING THE VACCINATION – inform our staff of:
Contraindications
Anaphylaxis to a previous dose of the vaccine being given
Anaphylaxis to a component of the vaccine being given ( see below )
Precautions
Acute illness, e.g. fever ≥38.5℃
Bleeding disorder or receipt of anticoagulant therapy
Suspected immediate generalised allergic reaction to a previous dose of COVID-19 vaccine
Generalised allergic reaction to any component of the COVID-19 vaccine to be administered
Prior anaphylaxis to other vaccines or to medications (injectable or oral) where polyethylene glycol or polysorbate 80 could conceivably be the cause
Special circumstances warranting discussion before vaccination
Pregnancy
Immunocompromise
Please do not come to your vaccination appointment:
• if you are feeling unwell with fever, cough, runny nose or other symptoms that
could be from COVID-19
• if you are waiting for COVID-19 test results, or have tested positive for COVID-19
• if you are a close contact of someone with COVID-19, or
If you have had another vaccine, for example the influenza vaccination, in the 14 days
before your COVID-19 vaccine appointment. Please let us know as we may need to
reschedule your appointment.
AFTER VACCINATION
patients will need to wait 15 minutes prior to leaving, and notify of any adverse reaction.
All vaccinations will be recorded on the Australian Immunisation register and our clinical records.
Your Vaccination records can be seen online using your MYGOV account, Register here : https://my.gov.au/EnrolService/enrolService.htm?_flowId=mgv2-enrolment-mg-flow&_flowExecutionKey=e2s1
or download the Express Plus Medicare app at: https://www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/individuals/services/medicare/express-plus-medicare-mobile-app
More information is Here: https://www.doctorbulkbill.com.au/covid-vaccine-certificates/
Here is a video on how to download your vaccination certificate: https://au.yahoo.com/news/vaccination-certificate-android-device-052939009.html
What if I don’t have a smart phone or can’t use myGov?
Printed COVID-19 digital certificates are accepted as proof of vaccination status.
The AIR can be contacted directly on 1800 653 809 and will send a paper copy of the certificate within 14 days via post.
The Immunisation register has lost a small percentage of notifications, if you dont see your vaccine notification let us know and we can re-send it.
COVID RISK CALCULATOR: Find out your risk of catching Covid: https://corical.immunisationcoalition.org.au/
A Public Health England study found in May that two doses of AstraZeneca OR Pfizer were 66 – 88% effective against the Indian coronavirus strain, or variant B617.
AstraZeneca can be given to anyone with:
- People with a past history of venous thromboembolism in typical sites, such as deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism
- People with a predisposition to form blood clots, such as those with Factor V Leiden, or other non-immune thrombophilic disorders
- People with a family history of clots or clotting conditions
- People currently receiving anticoagulant medications
- People with a history of ischaemic heart disease or cerebrovascular accident
- People with a current or past history of thrombocytopenia.
Pfizer is preferred for anyone with:
- A past history of cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVST)
- A past history of heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT)
- A past history of idiopathic splanchnic (mesenteric, portal and splenic) venous thrombosis
- Anti-phospholipid syndrome with thrombosis
COVID-19 Vaccine AstraZeneca Ingredients: contains the excipients histidine, histidine hydrochloride
monohydrate, sodium chloride, magnesium chloride hexahydrate, disodium edetate (EDTA),
sucrose, ethanol absolute, polysorbate 80 and water for injections.
COVID-19 Vaccine AstraZeneca does not contain any preservatives and the vial stopper is not
made with natural rubber latex.
PFIZER VACCINE CONTAINS:
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((4-hydroxybutyl)azanediyl)bis(hexane6,1-diyl)bis(2-hexyldecanoate) (ALC-0315)
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2-[(polyethylene glycol)-2000]-N, N-ditetradecylacetamide (ALC-0159)
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Distearoylphosphatidylcholine (DSPC)
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Cholesterol
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Potassium chloride
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Monobasic potassium phosphate
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Sodium chloridE
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Dibasic sodium phosphate dihydrate
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CONTRA INDICATIONS FOR PFIZER VACCINE:
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People with a history of severe allergic reaction to any component of the vaccine should not take it.
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Any cardiomyopathy, heart failure, inflammatory heart condition
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There are currently no efficacy or safety data for children below the age of 12 years. Until such data are available, individuals below 12 years of age should not be routinely vaccinated.
MODERNA (SPIKEVAX) mRNA VACCINE CONTENTS:
The active ingredient is the mRNA embedded in the SM-102 lipid nanoparticles (LNP). Other ingredients include:
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Heptadecan-9-yl 8-[2-hydroxyethyl-(6-oxo-6-undecoxyhexyl)amino]octanoate
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Cholesterol (enhances membrane fluidity)
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Distearoylphosphatidylcholine
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1,2-dimyristoyl-rac-glycero-3-methoxypolyethylene glycol-2000
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Trometamol
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Trometamol hydrochloride
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Acetic acid
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Sodium acetate trihydrate
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Sucrose (sugar)
The Moderna (SPIKEVAX) COVID-19 vaccine is produced using a cell-free vitro transcription process and does not include preservatives or any components of animal or human origin. Moderna (SPIKEVAX) COVID-19 vaccine contains less than 1mmol (23mg) of sodium per 0.5mL dose and is therefore essentially ‘sodium-free’ (Moderna Australia, 2021).
Protection against the Delta variant
A test-negative case-control study in Canada was conducted with more than 400,000 symptomatic cases and showed that effectiveness against PCR-positive symptomatic disease ≥21 days after dose 1 was 70% (95% CI: 52 – 81) for Delta variant cases compared to 84% (95% CI: 80 – 86) for Alpha variant cases. Effectiveness against hospitalisation or death ≥21 days after dose 1 was 95% (95% CI: 67 – 99) for Delta variant cases compared to 80% (95% CI:74 – 85) for Alpha variant cases (ATAGI, 2021b).
ATAGI is aware of scientific reports proposing that inadvertent injection of a COVID-19 vaccine into a blood vessel may be a contributing cause of serious adverse events following immunisation, such as myocarditis. ATAGI has reviewed the available evidence and considers injection technique highly unlikely to be a contributor to these adverse events, for several reasons:
- The majority of myocarditis cases occur after the second dose of the mRNA vaccines. If intravascular injection was an important contributor, there would not be this differential distribution of cases by vaccine dose.
- Direct injection into a blood vessel is unlikely in recommended injection sites.
- Based on a review of the available evidence, ATAGI does not recommend routinely aspirating (drawing back) needles before injection. This practice was rejected some decades ago, due to several disadvantages including prolonging the procedure, potentially associated pain, and increasing the risk of needle-syringe disconnection. Not aspirating is supported by the current advice in the Australian Immunisation Handbook (ATAGI, 2018).
Contraindications include anaphylaxis or a severe hypersensitivity reaction to a previous dose of an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine including Moderna (SPIKEVAX) COVID-19 vaccine. Anaphylaxis to any of its contained components as listed in Topic 1 (Moderna Australia, 2021).
A risk of myocarditis and pericarditis has been observed in people who have received mRNA COVID-19 vaccines such as Moderna (SPIKEVAX) COVID-19 vaccine in overseas studies, particularly in males under 30 years of age after the second vaccine dose . Symptoms typically appear within 1-5 days of vaccination and include chest pain, palpitations (irregular heartbeat), syncope (fainting) or shortness of breath.
Past infection with SARS-CoV-2 is not a contraindication to vaccination. Vaccination can be deferred for up to six months after the acute illness in those who have had PCR-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection. Evidence suggests that past infection reduces the risk of reinfection for at least 6 months.
Pregnancy–
mRNA COVID-19 vaccines such as Moderna (SPIKEVAX) are recommended for pregnant women (ATAGI, 2021b). This is because the risk of severe outcomes from COVID-19 is significantly higher for pregnant women and their unborn baby, than non-pregnant women.
Breastfeeding–
It is not known if Moderna (SPIKEVAX) is excreted in human breast milk (Moderna Australia, 2021). Women do not need to stop breastfeeding before or after vaccination.
Fertility–
Getting vaccinated before conceiving can provide protection for women against COVID-19 throughout their pregnancy. Vaccination does not affect fertility. Women are not required to have a pregnancy test before getting vaccinated (ATAGI, 2021j).
Very common adverse events–
The following list identifies the frequency of very common AEFI in completed phase 3, randomised, placebo-controlled clinical trials:
- Site pain – >92% of individuals.
- Fatigue – >70% of individuals.
- Headache – >64% of individuals.
- Myalgia – >61% of individuals.
- Arthralgia – >46% of individuals.
- Chills – >45% of individuals.
- Nausea and vomiting – >23% of individuals.
- Axillary swelling/tenderness – >19% of individuals.
- Fever – >15% of individuals.
- Injection site swelling – >14% of individuals.
- Redness at the injection site – >10% of individuals.
Other AEFI to be aware of include:
- Delayed injection site reactions (>7 days after vaccination) including pain, erythema and swelling (common).
- Injection site urticaria (hives) (common).
- Injection site pruritus (itchiness) (uncommon).
- Lymphadenopathy/lymphadenitis/lymph node pain/axillary mass (uncommon).
- Facial swelling in people who had a history of dermatological fillers
NOVAVAX INGREDIENTS LIST:
• Matrix-M adjuvant, which
contains:
• Quillaja Saponaria
saponins fraction A
• Quillaja Saponaria
saponins fraction C
• cholesterol
• phosphatidyl choline
• monobasic potassium
phosphate
• potassium chloride
• Dibasic sodium phosphate
heptahydrate• Monobasic sodium
phosphate monohydrate
• Sodium chloride
• Polysorbate 80
• Sodium hydroxide (for pH
adjustment)
• Hydrochloric acid (for pH
adjustment)Very common side effects
• Tenderness or pain at injection site
• Feeling tired
• Feeling unwell
• Headache
• Muscle aches
• Joint pain
• Nausea
• VomitingCommon side effects
• Redness at injection site
• Swelling at injection site
• Fever (temperature higher than
38°C)
• Chills
• Pain or discomfort in the arms,
hands, legs and/or feet
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