Victorian government has announced free flu vaccination for everyone starting from aged of 6 months and above. It is strongly recommended to get flu vaccination this year as for the past 2 years, lockdown and social distancing had suppressed flu virus and allows the sudden surge of flu virus this year due to waning immunity. This free flu vaccination program will run from 1/6/2022 to 30/6/2022. 

We will be receiving private flu vaccines to be given out free to all patients as part of government flu vaccination program. We will be directly administering flu vaccines to patients.

You can get flu vaccination by booking online with me on HotDoc

Author:

Stuart N Isaacs, MD

Section Editor:

Martin S Hirsch, MD

Deputy Editor:

Jennifer Mitty, MD, MPH

INTRODUCTION

Monkeypox is a viral zoonotic infection that results in a rash similar to smallpox. However, the person-to-person spread and the mortality from a monkeypox infection are significantly lower than for smallpox. Clinically, these two viral infections are difficult to distinguish, raising concerns that monkeypox could be used for bioterrorism [1].

This topic will review the virology, epidemiology, clinical manifestations, diagnosis, and treatment of monkeypox. Topic reviews that discuss smallpox are presented separately. (See "Variola virus (smallpox)" and "Identifying and managing casualties of biological terrorism".)

VIROLOGY

Monkeypox, an orthopoxvirus, was first isolated in the late 1950s from a colony of sick monkeys. The virus is in the same genus as variola (causative agent of smallpox) and vaccinia viruses (the virus used in smallpox vaccine). Electron microscopy of cells infected with monkeypox virus shows a brick-like virion, indistinguishable from the virions of variola or vaccinia viruses (picture 1).

Two distinct strains of monkeypox exist in different geographic regions of Africa, as suggested by epidemiologic, animal, and molecular evidence [2]. In comparison to strains isolated from Central Africa, monkeypox from Western Africa is less virulent and lacks a number of genes present in the other viral strain [2,3].

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Seymour Street Medical and Dental Centre, Ringwood is providing Covid-19 vaccination. Covid 19 Pfizer vaccine and AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine are now available in our clinic. Covid 19 Pfizer vaccines are available for people from 5 year old and above. People aged 60 years and above can receive the AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine. You will be required to book an appointment for Covid-19 vaccination clinic.

Please be sure you turn up for your appointment for Covid19 vaccination. As the vaccine comes in multidose vial, once it opened up, it can only lasted for 6 hours before it has to be discarded. Given the limited number of vaccines are available, it is crucial not to waste any of the vaccines.

You can have Covid 19 vaccination in other vaccination hub. You can call 1800 675 398 to book an appointment or book online on coronavirus.vic.gov.au/book-your-vaccine-appointment. For more information, please visit the website.

ATAGI recommends Covid-19 vaccine by Pfizer (Cominarty) is preferred over AstraZenaca Covid-19 vaccine in adults aged under 60 years. This recommendation is based on the increasing potentially risk of thrombosis with trombocytopenia following AstraZeneca vaccine in those under 60 years. Covid-19 vaccine AstraZeneca can be used in adults aged under 60 years where the benefits are likely to outweigh the risks for that individual and the person made an informed decision based on understanding of the risks and benefits. People who have had the first dose of Covid-19 vaccine AstraZeneca without any serious adverse effects can be given second dose, including adults under 60 years. For more information, please visit ATAG website.

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