Immunisation protects children (and adults) against harmful infections before they come into contact with them in the community. Immunisation uses the body’s natural defence mechanism – the immune response – to build resistance to specific infections. Immunisation helps children stay healthy by preventing serious infections.
At Karis Medical Group we Provide Both Adults and Children Vaccinations , may it be in the form of travel vaccines, Yearly flu injections , Catch -up immunizations in adult or routine childhood immunisations.
The routine childhood immunisations given through the National Immunisation Program currently provide protection against the following diseases – Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis (whooping cough), Poliomyelitis (polio), Measles, Mumps, Rubella (german measles), Haemophilus influenzae type b (hib), Hepatits B, Meningococcal C, Pneumococcal and Varicella (chicken pox) . All of these diseases can cause serious complications and sometimes death. All of the vaccines used in the National Immunisation Program are now given by injection.
INFANTS VACCINATIONS:
There have been a number of changes to the standard immunisation schedule recently. Please ask for our “Immunisation Information Pack: at reception. This should be read prior to your appointment so that if you have any questions you can ask the doctor or our nurse. When making your appointment please let the reception team know that it is for immunisation.
4 YEAR OLD IMMUNIZATION AND HEALTH CHECK :
This health check is now available at the practice and is run by our experienced nursing team. If you would like to book a 4 year old health check, please discuss with your doctor who will arrange for our reception team to book this appointment for you.
OTHER VACCINATIONS :
We stock the full range of free vaccinations for the over 65′s and eligible indigenous patients. Other vaccinations can be obtained with doctor’s prescription and administered by the practice nurse.
TRAVEL VACCINATIONS :
Professional advice needs to be sought at least 6-8 weeks prior to travelling. Doctors at Karis Medical Group are able to provide valuable advice on travel health and will offer appropriate and relevant travel vaccines
FLU VACCINATIONS :
This vaccination can be purchased through the practice at a cost per immunisation, please ask our receptionist. This fee must be paid in full at the time of immunisation and there is no rebate available from Medicare. Alternatively patients can request a script from the doctor and purchase the script from the local chemist.
PRIVATE VACCINES :
Karis Medical Group recommends that patients purchase their vaccines immediately prior to their appointment time and are encouraged to hand over their vaccine to the receptionist or practice nurse on arrival to maintain an adequate vaccine temperature.
Globally, inadequate refrigeration and poor storage conditions are the most common vaccine storage problems. Variations in temperature and failure to follow storage and monitoring requirements can significantly affect the effectiveness of vaccines and lead to unnecessary wastage.
How Does Immunisation Work?
All forms of immunisation work in the same way. When someone is injected with a vaccine, their body produces an immune response in the same way it would following exposure to a disease but without the person getting the disease. If the person comes in contact with the disease in the future, the body is able to make an immune response fast enough to prevent the person developing the disease of developing a severe case of the disease.
Most immunisations are billed at the discretion of the doctor.
Please call reception for more imformation on 9041 3126.
* Information sourced from the National Immunisation Program brochure located:
http://immunise.health.gov.au/internet/immunise/publishing.nsf/Content/nips-ctn