Flu season will be here soon, but there is no need to panic.
We haven’t seen much flu yet on the Southern Downs but the peak season is July to September.
That’s important to remember because the flu vaccine is most effective for three to four months.
Starting in April, the Condamine Medical Centre will be running early morning clinics for people to get their flu shot. Bookings can be made on-line.
Elsewhere on the Southern Downs, contact your local GP’s office to check they have the vaccine in stock and make an appointment to get one.
The vaccine is free for children aged from six months to five years and for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples aged from six months to 65 years.
Pregnant women, and people with illnesses such as asthma, diabetes, heart conditions and compromised immunity should make the flu jab a priority.
Time for another Covid booster
Everyone aged 18 years and over is eligible for a Covid booster
Don’t worry about the number of boosters you’ve had. So long as it’s been six months since your last shot or six months since you recovered from Covid, then you are good to go for another booster.
Lots of new strains of Covid are developing as the virus mutates.
It will become the new normal to regularly top up immunity by having booster shots.
Condamine Medical Centre will be running immunisation clinics. Book your spot on-line.
People whose doctors are elsewhere should ring their GP’s office and make an appointment.
Blue the cue to share awareness
People living near our border with NSW will be relieved that Daylight Saving ends this Sunday but they will also have their State of Origin loyalties challenged for a good cause.
This Sunday, we in the maroon state, are being asked to go blue!
That’s because Sunday is also World Autism Awareness Day and the “go blue” theme is embraced all around the world.
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD), refers to a broad range of conditions characterized by challenges with social skills, repetitive behaviours, speech and nonverbal communication, seizures, sleep disorders, anxiety, depression, and attention issues.
It affects up to 1 in 44 children.
We know that there is not one autism but many subtypes, and each person with autism has a distinct set of strengths and challenges.
We are very fortunate to have an excellent support group for parents, families and individuals living with Autism, Autism Spectrum Disorder and Aspergers.
The group is based in Warwick but provides support throughout the Southern Downs.
Contact them at warwickasd@gmail.com or check out their Facebook page.
It is important to remember that people with autism have a lot of real strengths and deserve to be complimented on what they are good at.
Horrible injuries from e-cigarettes
Doctors throughout Australia are starting to see people with horrific mouth and face injuries after their e-cigarette exploded.
Illegally imported e-cigarettes are often mis-labelled and are not subject to Australia’s very strict TGA rules which means users have no idea they can contain up to 200 toxic chemicals, including those found in paint stripper and weed killer.
When it comes to vaping, we already know of incidents of lung injury, death, seizures, impeded brain development in children, dizziness, loss of concentration and exacerbation of mood disorders already reported around the world.
* Dr Goodwell is a nom de plume, courtesy of the friendly on-site Practitioners at the Condamine Medical Centre. The advice and information given in this column is of a general nature and is intended to encourage people to take care of their health, in partnership with their own doctor.
