COVID-19 POLICIES
Due to the ongoing COVID cases and to keep us all as safe as possible, 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
Batemans Bay Medical Centre continues to participate in the Australian Governments COVID-19 vaccination roll out.
From the 8th July 2022 you are eligible for a booster vaccination if you:
- are aged 16 years and over, and
- have completed your primary dose course of COVID-19 vaccination (have received 2 doses of a COVID-19 vaccine where 2 doses are the complete course, or 1 dose of a COVID-19 vaccine where a single dose is the complete course, or 3 doses if you are severely immunocompromised), and
- received your last dose of a COVID-19 vaccine at least 3 months ago.
People aged 12 to 15 years with complex health needs are also recommended to get a booster vaccination. This includes those who:
- are severely immunocompromised
- have a disability with significant or complex health needs
- have complex and/or multiple health conditions that increase the risk of severe COVID-19 are also recommended to get a booster vaccination.
If you have recovered from COVID-19
You can get a booster vaccination 3 months after confirmed COVID-19 infection.
If you are pregnant
Booster doses are recommended for pregnant women.
Additional winter booster dose
Recommendations for an additional booster (fourth) dose focus on protecting the most vulnerable groups against severe illness.
From July 2022, you are recommended to have an additional winter COVID-19 vaccine (second booster / fourth dose) if you are:
- aged 50 years or over
- a resident of an aged care or disability care facility
- aged 16 years and over and severely immunocompromised (this will be a fifth dose)
- aged 16 years and over years and have complex, chronic or severe conditions, including:
- Immunocompromising conditions
- Cancer
- Specific chronic inflammatory conditions such as systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis and similar
- Chronic lung disease.
- Chronic liver disease.
- Severe chronic kidney disease
- Chronic neurological disease
- Diabetes requiring medication
- Chronic cardiac disease
- People with disability with significant or complex health needs or multiple
comorbidities - Severe obesity
- Severely underweight
People aged 30 years and over are also eligible to receive an additional winter booster if they want to.
You can get your winter COVID-19 vaccination 3 months after your first booster dose. If you get COVID-19 before your winter booster dose, wait 3 months after infection to receive it.
The COVID-19 and flu vaccines can be given at the same time. Many people who are eligible for an additional winter COVID-19 booster will also be eligible for a free flu vaccine.
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 commenced from 10 January 2022.
IF YOU TEST POSITIVE FOR COVID
If you test positive to COVID-19 or register a positive rapid antigen test, you’ll receive a survey link and some questions from NSW Health via SMS.
If you’re identified as higher risk after completing the survey, you should discuss antivirals with your GP as soon as possible. Antivirals work best when taken early and within 5 days from when your symptoms start.
Please tell our reception staff if you need an appointment for antivirals for COVID.
If you’re identified as higher risk after completing the survey, you will receive a SMS from Healthdirect Australia, the national government-funded virtual health provider, about discussing antivirals with your GP.
You will only be sent a SMS from Healthdirect Australia if you have:
- received a positive COVID-19 test result or registered a positive rapid antigen test
- completed the survey you receive from NSW Health
- been identified as being at higher risk of severe illness.
Please call your GP to discuss antivirals or other early treatments, as soon as you have tested positive to COVID-19.
- have complex and/or multiple health conditions that increase the risk of severe COVID-19 are also recommended to get a booster vaccination.
If you have recovered from COVID-19
You can get a booster vaccination 3 months after confirmed COVID-19 infection.
If you are pregnant
Booster doses are recommended for pregnant women.
Additional winter booster dose
Recommendations for an additional booster (fourth) dose focus on protecting the most vulnerable groups against severe illness.
From July 2022, you are recommended to have an additional winter COVID-19 vaccine (second booster / fourth dose) if you are:
- aged 50 years or over
- a resident of an aged care or disability care facility
- aged 16 years and over and severely immunocompromised (this will be a fifth dose)
- aged 16 years and over years and have complex, chronic or severe conditions, including:
- Immunocompromising conditions
- Cancer
- Specific chronic inflammatory conditions such as systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis and similar
- Chronic lung disease.
- Chronic liver disease.
- Severe chronic kidney disease
- Chronic neurological disease
- Diabetes requiring medication
- Chronic cardiac disease
- People with disability with significant or complex health needs or multiple
comorbidities - Severe obesity
- Severely underweight
People aged 30 years and over are also eligible to receive an additional winter booster if they want to.
You can get your winter COVID-19 vaccination 3 months after your first booster dose. If you get COVID-19 before your winter booster dose, wait 3 months after infection to receive it.
The COVID-19 and flu vaccines can be given at the same time. Many people who are eligible for an additional winter COVID-19 booster will also be eligible for a free flu vaccine.
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 commenced from 10 January 2022.
IF YOU TEST POSITIVE FOR COVID
If you test positive to COVID-19 or register a positive rapid antigen test, you’ll receive a survey link and some questions from NSW Health via SMS.
If you’re identified as higher risk after completing the survey, you should discuss antivirals with your GP as soon as possible. Antivirals work best when taken early and within 5 days from when your symptoms start.
Please tell our reception staff if you need an appointment for antivirals for COVID.
If you’re identified as higher risk after completing the survey, you will receive a SMS from Healthdirect Australia, the national government-funded virtual health provider, about discussing antivirals with your GP.
You will only be sent a SMS from Healthdirect Australia if you have:
- received a positive COVID-19 test result or registered a positive rapid antigen test
- completed the survey you receive from NSW Health
- been identified as being at higher risk of severe illness.
Please call your GP to discuss antivirals or other early treatments, as soon as you have tested positive to COVID-19.