3 years ago

As many of our capital cities continue to grapple with COVID-19, it has been a different story for communities on the Mid North Coast. Despite an initial scare in July which was thankfully contained, the region has overall been extremely fortunate to avoid infection, allowing us to live relatively normal lives. However, as we’ve seen in regional communities around us, the situation can rapidly change. As such, it’s never been more important to play our part to protect our community.

The important role of vaccinations

The world has faced several diseases throughout history with vaccines playing a pivotal role in their control and in some cases, eradication altogether.  COVID-19 has been dubbed a one-in-100 year pandemic, and just like other diseases, vaccinations will be vital in the fight against it.  

While the capital cities have been plunged in and out of lockdown to contain the spread of the virus, vaccinations are the best weapon we have against COVID-19. Vaccinations are the key to living life as safely and freely as possible – visiting friends in our capital cities, across the border or even on the other side of the world. It’s the key to getting back to doing what we love. 

Should I get the AstraZeneca vaccine? 

The public messaging about the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine has been confusing. While initially only recommended for people over 60, health authorities have now given the green light for AstraZeneca to be administered to people under the age of 60 where Pfizer is not available. 

The main and well-publicised risk of the AstraZeneca vaccine is a rare clotting syndrome, which while treatable, can sometimes be fatal. Health Authorities say the risk of TTS (Thombosis with Thombocytopenia) is approximately one in 1 million doses. If you’re unsure what this means, these statistics might help: 

  • The risk of dying from TTS after the first dose of the AZ vaccine is on par with the risk of being killed by lightning in a year in Australia.
  • The risk of dying in a pedestrian accident or car accident are approximately eight in 1 million and twenty-eight in 1 million respectively. 
  • Adventure sports like bungee jumping (2 in 1 million), rock climbing (3 in 1 million) and scuba diving (10 in 1 million) carry far greater risk of death.

NOTE: Some pre-existing conditions may mean AstraZeneca is not suitable for you, so it’s important that you discuss this with your GP provider before receiving the vaccination. 

Benefits of getting vaccinated

Aside from protecting yourself against a severe case of COVID-19, there are some key benefits to getting vaccinated that you should consider:

  • You’re protecting unvaccinated close contacts 
  • You’re protecting your loved ones and the community from preventing transmission of the virus
  • Increased social activity such as large gatherings (like weddings), visiting family members, freedom from border restrictions, international travel and financial stability. 

How do I get vaccinated?

Beach Street Family Practice has you covered. We have COVID-19 vaccines ready to go and our team is ready to book vaccine appointments for both new and existing clients. Let’s get our community fully vaccinated. After all, we’re not safe until we’re all safe. 

If you’re unsure or have any questions about COVID-19 vaccinations, book an appointment with one of our GPs by giving us a call on 66 54 12 82.