Moruya Medical Centre

COVID-19 POLICIES

Due to the current increase in 'Omicron' cases and to keep us all as safe as possible during the festive season, the practice policy continues to require all symptomatic patients (fever, cough, sore throat or shortness of breath) to produce a negative COVID swab before being seen in the surgery. We will NOT be accepting at-home rapid tests. The negative swab results must be shown to reception staff

Additionally, whilst restrictions begin to ease, we still require mandatory mask wearing in the waiting/consultation rooms.

COVID-19 VACCINE BOOSTER

Moruya Medical Centre continues to participate in the Australian Governments COVID-19 vaccination roll out and will commence Pfizer booster doses from January 2022. 

Right now you are eligible for a booster if:

• you had your second dose of your primary course of COVID-19 vaccination at least three months ago and
• you are 16 years and older or
• ATAGI reiterates that a third (primary) dose of COVID-19 vaccine is also recommended for anyone with immunocompromising conditions, a minimum of two months after their second dose

(ATAGI) has recommended a second booster COVID-19 vaccine dose among the most vulnerable sections of the population.
 
On Friday 25 March, the Federal Minister for Health and Aged Care, Greg Hunt, confirmed a fourth dose of a COVID-19 vaccine is now recommended four months after an initial booster dose for the following groups:

* All over-65s
* All residents of aged and disability care facilities, regardless of age
* Those aged 16 and above with severe immunocompromise
* Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 50 and older

For people in those categories who had a confirmed COVID-19 infection after receiving a first booster dose, the follow-up booster is recommended with a gap of four months after infection.

Booster doses are not mandatory, however they are recommended to maintain immunity against COVID-19.

Please ring the surgery to book your appointment.

ATAGI is not currently recommending booster doses for:

• people aged 12 to 15 years

Read ATAGI’s advice on COVID-19 booster doses.

COVID-19 VACCINES FOR CHILDREN AGED 5 TO 11 YEARS

The Australian Government  will provide COVID-19 vaccines to children aged 5 to 11 years through the COVID-19 Vaccination Program

• This means that anyone in Australia aged 5 to 11 years can receive a COVID-19 vaccine.

• Pfizer is the only vaccine that has been approved for use in this age group.

• The primary course is two doses, with an interval of 8-weeks. The interval can be shorted to a minimum of 3 weeks in special circumstances.

• The roll-out to this age group will commence from 10 January 2022.