Influenza vaccination clinic in Inglewood

March 31, 2009

On Wednesday April 1st , two GPs have organised an Influenza Immunisation day in Inglewood for their patients.

Staff from the combined practices Dr D Jones and Dr S Finnigan, will pack up and go to the community venue in Mamaku Street, Inglewood expecting to see more than 500 of their eligible patient’s front up for their Influenza vaccinations.

Dr Jones’ practise nurse, Maria Wynen says it is the fourth year that the practises have run a flu vaccine day and it’s been really successful. The clinic runs from 9am – 4pm.

“The patients all get their reminders and consent forms in the mail, then they ring and book in. We have more that 500 patients booked in and it runs like clock work. Actually it’s a real catch up for the patients.”

Taranaki Immunisation Facilitator Trish Wells-Morris said that this is an excellent example of an initiative to manage the challenge of getting most of their patients vaccinated without impacting on the facilities at the Health Centre.

“It is important that the elderly and those more susceptible to Influenza get immunised early,” she said.

Taranaki DHB Medical Officer of Health Dr Penny Hutchinson said the overall uptake of influenza vaccine increased by 1.5 percent to 756,750 doses in 2008 – a figure which needs to increase again this year.

Dr Hutchinson said that influenza can be a serious and potentially fatal disease particularly for people who have long term health conditions.

“Immunisation is our best protection – influenza is easily spread and anyone can catch it. It’s important to be immunised before winter as it can take up to two weeks from immunisation to develop immunity,” explains Dr Hutchinson.

“Everyone should be talking to their GP or health practitioner to see whether they are eligible for a free Influenza vaccination.”

A media opportunity is available on the day; please contact me to make a time

For more information please call

Sue Carrington
Taranaki DHB Media Adviser
Ph 021 367 789

ELIGIBILITY FOR FREE VACCINE

The influenza vaccine is free for the following people before the 30th June 2009

Anyone aged 65 years or over.

Anyone under 65 years of age with certain medical outlined below.

Cardiovascular disease — ischaemic heart disease, congestive heart disease, rheumatic heart disease, congenital heart disease, cerebrovascular disease.
Chronic respiratory disease — asthma (if on regular preventive therapy), and other chronic respiratory disease with impaired lung function
Diabetes
Chronic renal disease
Cancer (patient currently has cancer), excluding basal and squamous skin cancer if not invasive.
Other conditions — autoimmune disease, immune suppression, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), transplant recipients, neuromuscular and central nervous system diseases, haemoglobinopathies and children on long term aspirin.

The following conditions are excluded from funding;

Asthma not requiring regular preventive therapy
Hypertension and/or dyslipidaemia without evidence of end-organ disease
Pregnancy in the absence of another risk factor

For further enquires regarding patient eligibility and technical queries contact:
Dr Alison Roberts, Manager Communicable Diseases and Immunisation Ministry of Health, Phone (04) 495 4384 or email alison_roberts@moh.govt.nz

Last updated: Tuesday, March 31, 2009