The division is striving to increase the immunisation rate of each practice (as well as other immunisation activities). This will not change but we recognise that surgeries within the Byron Shire, as a group, face added obstacles.
We are combining resources with the Public Health Unit to increase the immunisation rate of the Byron Shire. Statistically, this area has been identified as having the greatest immunisation need. Although most of the strategies developed are aimed at the special needs of this shire, the spin offs will benefit everyone. An extra staff member has been employed so that no practice will be disadvantaged while the Byron Shire project is operating.
Some of the strategies have already started with others soon to follow.
Byron Bay think tank
Last month a think tank was run in Byron Bay. It was representative of the vaccine providers (community health and general practices) in the area.
Many ideas and suggestions were shared, which resulted in the forming of more strategies to assist with overcoming many issues that are commonly faced. We appreciate the personal time that GPs, practice staff and community health team volunteered to discuss the immunisation problems experienced at the consultation stage.
Of course the issue of conscientious objectors was raised. One of the requests that gained great support was the development of resources that deal with single objections to immunisation such as: does measles vaccination cause autism, or isn’t giving so many vaccinations at once harmful?
Vax website to be established
To this end, the PHU and the division have agreed to set up a parent specific website that will answer common questions, and provide immunisation news, articles and links to other sites. The address will be: www.vaccination.org.au
Information related to the objections often raised will be discussed individually and can be printed from the site. Surgeries are free to use the information as patient handouts. They could also be referenced while talking to patients in the consultation room.
We will also link to other sites, especially those with more scientific reports that might satisfy those wanting to investigate further or check our facts. The website will be accessible by the end of June.
If you have a practice website and would like to link to us or have website suggestions on the topic of immunisation, please phone or email me at the division: gmcdonald@nrdgp.org.au
Data cleaning
Jenny Braithwaite has been employed to educate practices and community health centres about the use of their reports from ACIR, how to use the website, data cleaning and effective ways to use reminder systems. She is currently working her way through the Byron Shire but will then move to the rest of the division.
Monthly immunisation clinics
Community Health has increased its monthly immunisation clinics and has opened two new centres: Brunswick Heads (second Saturday) and another at Mullumbimby (third Thursday).
These free immunisation clinics are in addition to the two already operating in the area at Byron Bay (second Thursday) and Ocean Shores (forth Thursday). The clinics have been advertised on local radio stations and will continue promotion until July. The viability of the new clinics will be assessed in July. Posters and flyers have been produced. The teams at the clinics complement the surgeries and offer any assistance that they can to their local GPs. Please contact Jan Wright at the Byron Community Health Centre for flyers or more information: 6685 6254.Gae McDonald
media@nrdgp.org.au
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