News and information…

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Keep up to date with changes to the vaccine program, new services and ways that we can continue to help during Covid restriction periods.

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COVID-19 VACCINATIONS

BLACKBURN CLINIC IS NOW PROVIDING BOTH ASTRA ZENECA AND PFIZER VACCINATIONS.

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Pfizer is booked out until late October- book online by searching on Saturdays & Sundays. Leave the doctor preference as ALL.
12-15 year olds only on 13/11/2021, 27/11/2021 and 5/12/2021.

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Astra Zeneca appointments are readily available – phone the clinic to book.

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WHICH VACCINE AM I ELIGIBLE FOR?

• Age 0-11 – not eligible for any Covid vaccination at this stage

• Age 12-15 – eligible for Pfizer. We have several dedicated session for 12-15 year olds only, on 13th and 27th November and 5th December. The 160 appointments in each of these sessions allow greater physical spacing in order to permit ONE adult only to accompany each 12-15 year old. Anyone not aged 12-15 who books during this session will have their appointment cancelled. Book online by searching for an appointment on those specific dates with “Dr 12-15 Yr Olds Only Pfizer”.

• Age 16-59 – eligible for Pfizer. Our earliest available Pfizer appointments are late OCTOBER.

• Age 60 and over – eligible for Astra Zeneca and some people are occupationally eligible and some are medically eligible for Pfizer – click HERE to check whether you fit the eligibility criteria before booking online. AZ appointments are readily available.

• If you are aged 18-59 and you would like to have Astra Zeneca, please book a (bulk-billed) appointment with one of our GPs to discuss your options. AZ appointments are readily available.

• NOTE – mixed vaccines are not allowed in Australia. If your first dose was Astra Zeneca, your second dose must also be Astra Zeneca.

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ELIGIBILITY CHECKER:  https://covid-vaccine.healthdirect.gov.au/eligibility

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HOW DO I BOOK IN FOR A VACCINE?

• Pfizer eligible – use our online booking system (if booking for your second dose, please phone the clinic). Please don’t book unless you are eligible – we do check eligibility.

• Astra Zeneca eligible – we have AZ readily available, telephone the clinic

• New patients of any age – Due to inadequate Covid-19 vaccine supply, we are temporarily postponing the registration of new (vaccine only) patients. See further instructions below.

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To find an online appointment for your first dose of Pfizer vaccination :

– Search on SATURDAY & SUNDAY and select an appointment with “Dr CovidVacc Elig patient under 60”.  Stock limitations mean our earliest available appointments are LATE OCTOBER. Do not select a Doctor’s name if you want to book for a Covid vaccination. See full instructions further down the page.

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New Patients of any age

We regret that due to inadequate Covid-19 vaccine supply, we are temporarily postponing the registration of new (vaccine only) patients.

Should you wish to forward your New Patient Registration Form for the purposes of receiving your Covid19 vaccine at Blackburn Clinic in the future, you may do so.  When vaccine supply increases, and there are online appointments available for you to book, we will process your form and let you know via text message.

NEW PATIENTS are unable to book online (due to software limitations) until the clinic has registered you in the system.  Please complete a NEW COVID VACCINE PATIENT REGISTRATION FORM by clicking here. Please print out, complete the form, scan and email it back (to the email address on the form), or follow the alternate instructions on the form.

Existing patients who have not consulted with us for more than 2 years will need to phone our reception team to request an appointment.

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Second doses (of Pfizer or AstraZeneca):

If you have had your first Covid vaccination elsewhere, please phone us to book your second dose (don’t book online) as the appointment requirements will be different. Bring proof of your first dose vaccine brand and date to your appointment.

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A useful resource for parents and teenagers regarding Covid-19 vaccines:

https://www.health.gov.au/sites/default/files/documents/2021/09/covid-19-vaccine-information-for-teens-and-parents-guardians-covid-19-vaccine-information-for-adolescents-and-parents-or-carers_0.pdf

For further information about the Astra Zeneca vaccine (including side effects such as the rare blood clotting condition) on the links below:

https://www.health.gov.au/sites/default/files/documents/2021/05/covid-19-vaccination-information-on-covid-19-astrazeneca-vaccine.pdf

https://www.health.gov.au/sites/default/files/documents/2021/06/covid-19-vaccination-atagi-advice-on-the-covid-19-astrazeneca-vaccine-faqs.pdf

For further information about the Pfizer vaccine, please click on the link below:

https://www.health.gov.au/sites/default/files/documents/2021/08/covid-19-vaccination-information-on-covid-19-pfizer-comirnaty-vaccine.pdf

Please ensure you read the relevant link in detail.  Please DO NOT proceed with an online booking if you fall into any of the ‘precautions’ groups – such as allergy, bleeding disorder, immunocompromised, significant heart history etc. If these relate to you or if you have any questions, please make an appointment with your regular GP to discuss your suitability for a vaccine.

The link below shows you the consent form for the both vaccines. It is important for you to read this prior to booking online. Booking your appointment online is an indication that you have consented for your vaccine.

https://www.health.gov.au/sites/default/files/documents/2021/05/covid-19-vaccination-consent-form-for-covid-19-vaccination-covid-19-vaccination-consent-form_0.pdf

Further information regarding our weekend COVID vaccine appointments can be found here:

https://www.blackburnclinic.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Weekend-Covid-Vaccination-Clinics.pdf

INSTRUCTIONS RE HOW TO BOOK AN ONLINE APPOINTMENT:

https://www.blackburnclinic.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/How-to-book-for-your-COVID-vaccine-using-the-Blackburn-Clinic-online-booking-system.pdf

HOW TO GET PROOF OF YOUR COVID-19 VACCINATION

You can get proof via your Medicare online account through myGov, or the Express Plus Medicare mobile app. See this link for instructions:

https://www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/individuals/subjects/getting-help-during-coronavirus-covid-19/covid-19-vaccinations/how-get-proof-your-covid-19-vaccinations

FLU VACCINATIONS

Flu vaccination bookings can be made by telephoning our reception team. Please be aware that your Flu and COVID vaccinations need to occur at least 1 week apart.

FLU VACCINATIONS CANNOT BE BOOKED ONLINE.

WEEKEND PROTOCOL – no appointment necessary

On weekends and public holidays, please use the QR code at our entrance to get a COVID PASS, ensuring you have no Covid symptoms before entering the waiting room. Patients will be seen in order of arrival. If you have symptoms please phone the clinic before 10:00am, so we can arrange for the doctor to call you and book you into our carpark respiratory clinic if appropriate.

If you’ve had a Covid test, please phone the clinic so we can arrange for a doctor to call you back with the result. We have limited capacity to change ‘dressings’ on weekends, but if strictly necessary, you are advised to come as early as possible – depending on how busy the carpark respiratory clinic gets, dressings may not be possible after 10:00am on weekends.

TELEHEALTH

Telehealth is still available where appropriate – please phone the clinic to book telehealth appointments.

TELEHEALTH FEES

Telehealth consultations have an out of pocket Gap (after the Medicare rebate) of $30 (or $15 for Concession patients) for appointments MON-FRI BEFORE 6PM. Telehealth AFTER 6PM and ON WEEKENDS has a Gap of $45 ($30 Concession). These gaps are lower than for face-to-face appointments.

CORONAVIRUS TESTING

Blackburn Clinic is not able to test for COVID-19. Please CLICK HERE to view the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) MAP OF COVID-19 TESTING SITES or speak with your doctor. Some sites require a referral from your GP.  Click on the site you are interested in attending to get further information about their service.

CORONAVIRUS SYMPTOM CHECKER

CLICK HERE to access the DHHS Symptom Checker.

CORONAVIRUS INFORMATION IN OTHER LANGUAGES

Please CLICK HERE to view information provided by DHHS about COVID-19, which is available in over 50 different languages.