Appointments can be booked:

• online through our website
• through the HotDoc app
• in person at reception
• by calling 07 5322 4900.

After booking your appointment, please enter through the main reception and inform one of our friendly receptionists you’ve arrived for your flu vaccine. If it’s your first time at our Practice, it’s advised you arrive at least 10 minutes ahead of your appointment time to complete our new patient form. Once this is completed, please ask one of our receptionists to point you in the direction of our height, weight, and blood pressure machines which we ask you to use to help our doctors help you.

Your doctor will ask you about your vaccination history and allergies, and then transfer you to one of our nurses who will confirm your allergies again. This nurse will complete your vaccination form for you to hand to reception. The out-of-pocket cost will be $14.98. You must wait 15 minutes after the vaccination before leaving.

Influenza (or the flu) is a highly contagious, acute viral infection that spreads easily from person to person. The flu can spread from person to person by:

• Droplets spreading from an infected person when they cough, sneeze or talk,
• Touching surfaces contaminated by infected droplets (including hands, remote controls, phones, keyboards and door handles) and then touching your mouth, nose, or eyes.

Signs and Symptoms:

Symptoms usually appear 1 to 3 days after becoming infected.

The symptoms of flu can include:

• fever
• sore throat
• dry cough
• headache
• muscle and joint pain
• tiredness or extreme exhaustion

In the elderly, fever may be absent and the only signs and symptoms of flu may be:

• confusion
• shortness of breath
• worsening of a chronic condition

Annual vaccination is the best way to reduce the risk of getting the flu and its complications. Vaccination is encouraged to protect family/friends with lowered immunity (babies, grandparents etc). The period where the flu is at its peak of circulation is around June to September, but it is never too late to vaccinate as it can potentially circulate all year round.

The vaccine does not contain live flu viruses and cannot cause flu. However, some people may experience mild flu-like symptoms for up to 48 hours as their immune system responds to the vaccine

There are some very mild and short term common side effects associated with flu vaccination, normally lasting no more than 48 hours. These side effects may be more noticeable in children under five years of age. Side effects include:

• Drowsiness or tiredness
• Muscle aches
• Localised pain, redness, and swelling at the injection site
• Occasionally, an injection-site lump (nodule) that may last many weeks but needs no treatment
• Low-grade temperature (fever)

Very rarely do more serious side effects can occur. These tend to be allergic (anaphylactic) reactions to components in the vaccine.

If you are concerned that your side effects are persisting for too long, or they increase in severity, or become concerning to you, please book an appointment or walk in and see one of our GP’s or, if required, call 000.

Who is entitled to receive a free flu vaccine?

• All children aged 6 months up to 5 years of age
• Adults aged 65 years and over
• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who are aged 6 months and over
• Pregnant women during any trimester
• People aged six months and over with medical conditions that can lead to complications from influenza such as people who:
  • have heart disease; or
  • have lung disease or asthma; or
  • have another chronic illness, including diabetes and renal failure; or
  • have a chronic neurological condition, including multiple sclerosis and seizure disorders; or
  • have an immune compromising condition, including HIV infection; or are aged five to 10 years and are receiving long-term aspirin therapy, or are pregnant

If you meet any of the above criteria, please speak with one of our GP’s about vaccination under the National Immunisation Program.

For some patients, vaccination may not be appropriate. People who this might apply to include;

• Patients who currently have an illness resulting in a fever greater than or equal to 38.5^oC
• People with a lowered immunity caused by either a medical condition or medical treatment.
• People who have had a severe allergic reaction or anaphylaxis following a previous dose of the vaccine in question, or to a component of the vaccine.
• Patient with a history of Guillian Barré syndrome
• Patient with a bleeding disorder

Please discuss this with one of our GP’s if you are unsure as to whether the flu vaccine is appropriate for you.

Upon request you will be provided with a statement that includes:

• Name and date of birth
• All vaccine details
• Date and time of vaccination
• General Practice information
• Name of the nurse who administered the vaccination