FREE TRIVALENT FLU VACCINATION 2010 NOW IN STOCK (Govt. funded and Private stock)

Flu Vaccine is the only way to protect yourself from the Influenza Virus, and it is important to do so in advance. March is the ideal month for vaccination.

Everyone wishing to protect themselves from contracting the virus this season is encouraged to receive the annual Influenza Vaccine. Certain groups of people are eligible for a free government funded vaccine and the remainder will need to purchase a private vaccine from the surgery. The free vaccine is now in stock but we are waiting on private stocks to arrive.

Anyone over 65

All pregnant women

All aboriginal and Torres Straight Islander over the age of 15

All children and adults over the age of 6 months with medical risk factors:

MEDICAL RISK FACTORS:

• Cardiac disease (coronary artery disease, congestive cardiac failure, cyanotic congenital heart disease)
• Chronic respiratory disease (severe asthma, emphysema, chronic obstructive airways disease, chronic bronchitis, cystic fibrosis, bronchiectasis, chronic suppurative lung disease)
• Chronic neurological disease (multiple sclerosis, spinal cord injuries, seizure disorders, or other neuromuscular disorders)
• Other chronic illness (diabetes, chronic metabolic, chronic renal failure, haemaglobinopathies, impaired immunity, HIV, malignancy, chronic steroid use, long term aspirin use in children)

Please see below for more information or visit Queensland Health for more details and important information.

The Trivalent Annual Flu Vaccines will be available in mid to late March, please check our website regularly for updates.

Corporate FluVax Clinics Onsite

Reduced employee absentism = Reduced loss of productivity

Reduced loss of productivity = Stronger Bottom Line

As a manager in charge of a company you are probably aware that workers illness may cost a lot of time and money and, over time, significantly affect your bottom line. Influenza is a major cause of illness and flu vaccination is a must for every company.

According to Solvay-Influenza.com,

"Influenza costs businesses considerable money each year because of:

• absenteeism, replacement and overtime costs
• interruption of service and, or product delivery
• lost or reduced sales and productivity
• health benefit costs

The influenza virus thrives in the typical office environment, and will infect almost one in four people each winter. Each victim will be absent for 3-5 days, and individual productivity can be adversely affected for up to two weeks following an infection."

It is underestimated by many managers how much worker absentism can be avoided if their staff is vaccinated against flu on time. Even the youngest and healthiest workers can loose count of sick days they have taken over winter.

Vaccination greatly reduces the risk of contracting the influenza virus and reduces the transmission of disease to co-workers. The result is the reduced loss of productivity due to the reduced employee absentism.

"Five reasons to provide influenza vaccinations:

1. it reduces the number of episodes of upper respiratory illness by 25 – 34%;
2. it reduces days of sick leave from work due to upper respiratory illness by 32 – 43%;
3. It reduces work absenteeism due to illness by 36%;
4. it reduces physician office visits for upper respiratory illness by 34 – 44%;
5. It reduces antibiotic use for influenza-associated illnesses by 25%.

Cost-effectiveness among healthy persons aged 18 – 64 years, depends on the cost of vaccination, the influenza attack rate, and vaccine effectiveness against influenza-like illness. Vaccination against influenza has substantial health-related and economic benefits for healthy, working adults." (solvay-influenza.com)

For your personal company cost-benefit analysis of the Flu Vaccination Clinic this year please use the SOLVAY calculator here.

It is important to vaccinate early, up to 2 months before the usual influenza season starts. Most vaccination programs run during the months of March and April. There are a lot of companies to be covered and if you wish to get in early please book early.

How does the service run?

One of our doctors or qualified nurses will visit you on the day and time as agreed by both parties. Please make sure that all your employees are there at the time of appointment with consent forms filled in and signed (although we will try and pre-organise consent forms to reduce the amount of paper work on the day).

Why Chermside Medical Centre?

We are a practice of 15 General Practitioners and have existed for over 12 years. Corporate Health was always a major part of our concern. We have provided corporate on-site flu vaccination clinics for a number of years. We have highly experienced and qualified Doctors and Nurses who guarantee exceptional service and care to our corporate clients.

To register your interest in using our On-Site Corporate Flu Vaccination Servcie please complete the below form

Required* Contact Name  *   Field not valid (required or bad value) Phone Number Email Address  *   Field not valid (required or bad value) Number to be vaccinated Organisation Name Comments or queries     Please try again

or email us This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or call us on 3350 4222.

MINIMUM OF 10 PATIENTS (OR EQUIVALENT PAYMENT) IS REQUIRED FOR ON-SITE CLINIC

Every year Chermside Medical Centre offers Flu Vaccinations for individuals and businesses.

It is important to vaccinate early and we recommend that you protect yourself and your employees in advance against winter 'bugs'!

We usually start influenza vaccinations  during the months of March-April.

Everyone who would like to protect themselves from getting a 'flu' is recommended to get vaccinated but there are some people that are at greatest risk of getting the virus than others, they include:

• Individuals 65 years and over
• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adults 50 years and over
• Adults with chronic debilitating diseases (cardiac, pulmonary, renal and metabolic disorders)
• Children with cyanotic congential heart disease
• Adults and children receiving immunosuppressive therapy
• Residents of nursing homes and other chronic care facilities
• Staff and others who care for immuno-compromised patients
• Staff of nursing homes and other chronic care facilities (to protect patients)
• Women who are likely to be in second or third trimester of pregnancy should be vaccinated in advance
• Thought the immunization for healthy individuals is not normally recommended, it is the only method available to people to avoid the flu.

PLEASE NOTE: "Flu" vaccines do not protect against all strains of 'flu'.

Who should NOT be vaccinated?

Anyone with:

• An allergy to eggs and/or chicken feathers (includes individuals who on digestion of eggs develop swelling of tongue, lips or experience respiratory distress or collapse)
• Anyone with known allergy to Gentamicin or any other excipient of the vaccine - Thiomersal, Polysirbate, Octoxinol 8 and traces of formaldehyde
• A severe infection with a temperature
• Previous allergic reaction to influenza vaccine
• Women who are pregnant and have not sought medical advice
• Please read the Consumer Medicine Information for more info

Can I get 'flu' from the vaccine?

No! The vaccine contains only inactivated virus particles. Occasionally people develop a slight fever within a day or two of the vaccination. If you develop a runny nose or a sore throat this may be due to another viral infection. The influenza vaccine will not proect you agains all the minor infections.

But I had influenza vaccination last year?

The influenza vaccination needs to be replaced each year as the influenza virus has the ability to change. As such each year the vaccine is formulated to combat the three influenza virus strains that are expected to be a problem in that particular year.

FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE TALK TO ONE OF OUR DOCTORS OR NURSES and/or visit http://www.health.qld.gov.au/flu/facts/vaccination.asp

Your health is our greatest responsibility!