Reminder: COVID-19 vaccination recommendations for older patients
Vaccination remains an important measure to ensure the safety of older people, as older age continues to be the biggest risk factor for severe COVID-19 conditions.
- People aged 75 years and over are recommended to get a COVID-19 vaccine booster every 6 months.
- People aged 65 to 74 years, and adults with severe immunocompromise are recommended to receive a COVID-19 vaccine booster every 12 months.
During our current cold weather and flu season, it is timely to remind your older patients that:
- regular vaccination is the best protection from severe illness, hospitalisation or death from COVID-19
- oral antiviral treatments are available for people at high risk of severe illness from COVID-19
- COVID-19 vaccines can be administered at the same time as the annual flu vaccine.
Follow COVID-19 vaccination updates on the Department of Health and Aged Care website.
More COVID-19 information for primary health workers
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COVID-19 vaccine information for aged care providers and workers: www.health.gov.au/our-work/covid-19-vaccines/information-for-aged-care-providers-workers-and-residents-about-covid-19-vaccines
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Advice for COVID-19 vaccine providers: www.health.gov.au/our-work/covid-19-vaccines/advice-for-providers
Reminder: 2024 Free Influenza Vaccination Program is available
Through the 2024 Free Influenza Vaccination Program, all Queensland residents over the age of 6 months can access the influenza vaccine for free until Monday 30 September 2024.
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The program is available to Queensland residents only, including residents without a Medicare card.
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The program will reimburse vaccination service providers for privately purchased vaccines administered to Queenslanders not eligible under the National Immunisation Program (NIP). General Practitioners do not have to change the way they currently bill for influenza vaccination consultation as a function of this program.
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The program will finish on Monday 30 September 2024.
Get practice support for identifying your eligible patients
Our Quality Improvement team can support your practice to identify eligible patients and establish goals for increasing your vaccination rates. Contact the Quality Improvement team via support@bsphn.org.au or phone (07) 3864 7540.