adult immunisations

Boostrix

Boostrix is a combination vaccine containing diphtheria, tetanus and whooping cough. This vaccine is available and fully funded in pregnancy from 16 weeks to reduce the rate of whooping cough in the unvaccinated newborns.

Please discuss this with your midwife, nurse or doctor. It is also recommended for family members who will have close contact with newborn babies within the first few months, and health care workers. There is a cost associated for unfunded adults.

This vaccine is also funded at 45 and 65 but with other criteria. A booster is recommended every 5 years for whopping cough or 10 years for tetanus. Please discuss this with a nurse.

If you have an accident involving an open wound or puncture, you should check whether you need a tetanus booster, this will often be covered under ACC.

Flu vaccination

A winter flu can really knock you around. Anyone can get the flu, and even previously healthy people can become seriously ill. Each year the flu vaccination is slightly different, the formulation is based on data from the Northern hemisphere winter, in order to prevent new strains of flu from spreading. This is why it is important to have this annually.

Getting vaccinated each year is recommended as the single most effective way to reduce your chances of getting the flu. It’s available, at a small cost, for anyone who wants to protect themselves from infection.

The influenza vaccine is free for those most at risk of complications, and it may be free for you if you:

• Are 65 years or older, We run an over 65 years Flu clinic each year, a notification will be sent out closer to the time (Usually run at the start of April)
• Are pregnant (Can be given at any stage of pregnancy)
• Regularly use an asthma preventer
• Have diabetes
• Have kidney problems
• Have heart disease
• Have cancer
• Have a serious medical condition.

Please discuss eligibility with your nurse or doctor.

Shingles vaccination

Shingles is a painful, itchy skin rash. It usually appears as blisters around one side of your chest, but it can also be on your trunk, back, legs or face. It is most common in people over 70 years of age, but can happen in younger people. It is caused by the same virus (varicella zoster) that causes chickenpox.

The Shingrix vaccine, (2 doses) is available to anyone 50 years and older but only free (funded) for people aged 65 years.