Ground floor, Ilam Health Building, 110 Memorial Avenue, Burnside, Christchurch : Ph 03 351 6198 :
We are now offering Covid-19 Vaccinations at the Ilam Medical Centre.
If you meet the below criteria, and it has been at least 6months since your last covid-19 vaccination, and it has been at least 6 months since you last had the Covid-19 virus, then please call reception to book a nurse appointment for your vaccination.
Criteria
30 years and older, 6 monthly
** 16 years and older (only as a single booster)
** 12 years and older available if at risk of severe illness – Please discuss this with your GP before booking.
Covid-19 Cominarty Vaccination:
Coronavirus disease-2019 (Covid-19) is caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Like other coronaviruses, it has characteristic crown-like protein spikes on the surface which it uses to infect the cells in our airways. The mRNA COVID-19 vaccine, Comirnaty, provides your body with the instructions to make the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein. The spike protein is presented to the cells in the lymph nodes and induces a strong immune response.
Covid-19 continues to circulate widely internationally and to evolve rapidly with continuous changes to the spike protein. Because of this we need to maximise vaccine effectiveness by using variant-matched vaccines, similar to the way we do for influenza vaccines. Omicron is the only variant currently circulating globally and previous variants such as Delta and the original strain have largely disappeared. Numerous sub-lineages of Omicron have caused global waves of infection. Therefore, as of 7th March 2024, there is a new Cominarty Vaccine (Omicron 30mcg XXB.1.5), which offers better protection against the current strains of Covid-19.
Booster/Additional Dose Schedule:
Although protection against reinfection with Omicron variants wanes within months of booster doses, protection remains against severe disease. It is not yet certain how long the protection from COVID-19 vaccines and infection lasts. For most, it appears that protection against severe disease extends beyond six months as immune memory develops. So, having a dose earlier than 6months has limited benefit. Having a longer interval between doses also reduces the incidence of adverse events, including the rate of myocarditis and pericarditis following mRNA vaccines. Therefore, additional/Booster doses should be given at least six months after previous COVID-19 vaccination or COVID-19 infection.
A single booster dose is recommended for individuals aged 16 years and over, after completing the primary course.
Additional doses of Comirnaty 30mcg XBB.1.5 continue to be recommended from six months after last COVID-19 vaccination for those aged 12 and over who are eligible because of a higher risk of severe infection.
Additional doses continue to be available for healthy people aged 30 and over.
For more information on eligibility for additional/booster doses, please refer to the following website:
Comirnaty 30mcg XBB.1.5 – Immunisation Advisory Centre (immune.org.nz)
Safety Information:
All National Immunisation Schedule vaccines can be given at the same time as the Comirnaty 30mcg XBB.1.5 vaccine, preferably in a different limb. Influenza vaccination is also highly recommended for eligible groups and can be given at the same time as all COVID-19 vaccines.
This vaccine is safe to be given at any stage of pregnancy, and is Latex-free.
Common responses to this vaccine include: Pain at injection site, Headache, Fatigue, Muscle aches, Chills, Fever, Joint aches, Nausea.
Rare responses include: Lymphadenopathy (swollen lymph nodes), Myocarditis, Pericarditis.
COVID-19 and the Influenza Vaccination
It is safe to have the Influenza vaccination at the same time as all COVID-19 vaccinations, however Novovax contains adjuvants to boost the immune response, so please let the nurse know if you have recently had a Novuvax Covid vaccination (Note: this is not the standard covid vaccination). Please refer to the listed websites for information, or call to discuss any concerns or queries with a nurse before booking your appointment.
If you have had COVID-19, and are no longer isolating, there is no stand-down period required before having your influenza vaccination.
If you have any questions that are not answered above, please give us a call to speak with one of our friendly nurses.
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We have clinics open for bookings from Tuesday 2nd April, 2024. Please call reception to make an appointment, or book through your online Portal account.
We will be running our annual drop-in influenza vaccination clinic for those aged ≥ 65 years on Saturday 6th April, 2024. People in this age group will receive notification about this closer to the time. Note: We will only be providing the funded influenza vaccine at this clinic.
Why is the influenza vaccination important this year?
This year, as COVID-19 restrictions ease and borders reopen, it can be expected that a resurgence of respiratory viruses will follow, including influenza. During COVID-19 outbreaks, influenza vaccination is important, as the co-circulation of both diseases leads to an increased risk of serious illness if both viruses are caught whilst unvaccinated.
Eligibility:
The influenza vaccine is recommended and funded for people who meet the eligibility criteria, as set by PHARMAC. Note, this has narrowed slightly from last year and only includes:
– Pregnant people
– People aged 65 years and older
– People aged 6 months to under 65 years with eligible conditions*
– People aged 6 months to under 65 years with serious mental health and addiction conditions*
– Tamariki aged 4 years or under who have been hospitalised for respiratory illness (including measles) or have a history of significant respiratory illness.
*For more details on eligibility, please refer to Influenza vaccine – Immunisation Advisory Centre (immune.org.nz)
The Vaccines Available This Year:
*Tamariki aged 6 months to under 9 years who are receiving the influenza vaccine for the first time should receive two doses, at least 4 weeks apart.
**Fluad Quad is available for purchase for those aged ≥ 65 years. As we age, our immune system becomes less effective. This vaccine is designed to promote a stronger immune response, and so is potentially more effective for people in this age group. We have limited stock, so please let reception know when making your booking if you wish to purchase this vaccine and we can put one aside for you, or order one in.
For 2024, the influenza strains included in the quadrivalent vaccines are:
For more information, please refer to the following website:
Influenza_2024_Flu kit – Factsheets – Immunisation Advisory Centre (immune.org.nz)
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We no longer require patients to wear masks in the practice.
Patients will still be screened for respiratory symptoms. Anyone experiencing a cough, runny nose, sneezing or Flu symptoms will be asked to wait in the carpark.
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July 2022
We are very sorry that we have had to increase our patient fees and can understand the frustration this may cause our patients.
This increase is as a direct result of the government imposing a significant real-terms cut in funding from our services with effect 1 July 2022.
As at 31 March 2022, national inflation rises were running at 6.9%. Additionally, general practice has experienced a range of further cost pressures which has meant our total costs have risen by over 10% compared to this time last year.
The government has imposed a funding increase of just 3%. Our national representative body has been having further discussions with government officials but, to date, they are being ignored. General practice has no right or contractual means to negotiate our funding, despite what you might have heard the Minister of Health stating in the media
We want to treat our staff fairly. Our nurses and GPs have continued providing core services as well as providing our essential COVID response over the past two years. Yet the government funds our staff at a much lower level than equivalent doctors and nurses doing the same level of work in government-run hospital settings.
We think that is unfair. We also think it is important that we can retain essential staff to be able to continue providing essential services for you. We are well aware that our staff could choose to go and work overseas for a much higher salary – and they could do so tomorrow.
Most importantly, you should not avoid seeking medical help when needed. If you have any problems paying or the fees put you off from seeing a doctor when you need one – please talk to us about it. For medical emergencies, you always have the right to attend and be seen at the Emergency Department at our local hospital – and there is no charge for this service.
Firstly, thank you for asking and for allowing us to explain this no-win situation we have found ourselves in. We hope we can reverse the government’s decision and reduce our fees again.
You can definitely help. This can be done very simply by e-mailing or writing to our local MP, Sarah Pellett and the Minister of Health to express your concern at the government’s decision to reduce funding for essential family doctor services.
From the Partners at Ilam Medical Centre
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Meningococcal disease is caused by the bacterium Neisseria meningitidis.
At least 12 groups/strains of this have been identified, including A, B, C, X, Y, and W.
In New Zealand over 2014–2017, meningococcal group B caused around two-thirds of meningococcal disease each year, group C almost one-third and groups Y or W the remaining few cases. In 2022, group B was the prominent type in NZ causing 80% of group-identified cases.
Bexsero, a multicomponent recombinant vaccine against meningococcal B disease is available in New Zealand and is now part of the routine childhood immunisation schedule (in addition to all other vaccines already on the schedule).
As part of this schedule change, the government is funding a catch-up schedule. See tables below for information on the schedule, catch up programme, and key definitions:
Administered as part of the Childhood Immunisation Programme at three months, five months, and a booster dose at 12 months.
Two doses funded, eight weeks apart
Up to three doses funded, depending on the age of the child when they have the first dose.
Additional Information
Other meningococcal vaccines that protect against groups A, C, W and Y are also available in New Zealand, but are not funded within the childhood immunisation schedule. For best protection against all meningococcal disease in New Zealand, separate vaccinations against group B disease and groups A, C, Y and W disease are recommended. Please have a read of the websites below and/or ask your GP or nurse for information if you wish to learn more about this.
Websites for Further Reading
Bexsero – Immunisation Advisory Centre (immune.org.nz)
https://www.immune.org.nz/diseases/meningococcal-disease
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Orange settings
We encourage telephone consultations where possible but for those patients needing to be seen in the clinic they will be asked health questions related to Covid symptoms before an appointment can be made. It is very important that these questions are answered honestly.
Both vaccinated and unvaccinated patients can be seen in the clinic but only after being triaged and a mask will be required. Any patients with a mask exemption will need to be seen outside in our Covid cabin – please let the reception team know when you make the booking.,
If you have been in contact with a Covid 19 case within the last 14 please DO NOT come into our building. Speak to reception about booking a telephone consultation.
Thank you for your co operation with these processes.
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Appointments are now available for Flu Vaccinations. Bookings can be made over the phone.
The influenza vaccine is recommended and funded for people who meet the eligibility criteria, as set by PHARMAC. This includes
– People aged 6 months to under 65 years with eligible conditions
– Māori and Pacific peoples aged 55 to 64 years
For a full list of eligible conditions, please refer to www.influenza.org.nz, or view the PHARMAC website: https://schedule.pharmac.govt.nz/ScheduleOnline.php
**Fluad Quad is available for purchase for those aged ≥ 65 years. As we age, our immune system becomes less effective. This vaccine is designed to promote a stronger immune response, and so is potentially more effective for people in this age group. Unfortunately we have already used our initial stock and we are unable to order any more of these vaccines.
For 2022, the influenza strains included in the quadrivalent vaccines are:
• A/Victoria/2570/2019 (H1N1) pdm09-like virus
• A/Darwin/9/2021 (H3N2)-like virus (new)
• B/Austria/1359417/2021-like virus (new)
• B/Phuket/3073/2013-like virus
It is safe to have the Influenza vaccination at the same time as all COVID-19 vaccinations, except Novavax. Please refer to the listed websites for information, or call to discuss any concerns or queries with a nurse before booking your appointment.
For more information, please refer to the following website: https://www.influenza.org.nz/sites/default/files/IMAC_Flu_Kit_2022_29-03-2022.pdf
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We are offering Rapid Antigen Tests [RATs] according to Ministry of Health [MoH] guidelines. Currently, testing is required for:
– Asymptomatic household contacts on day 3 and 7 of isolation
– Anyone with Covid-19-like symptoms, regardless of whether they are a household contact or not.
Please call reception to book in for a test if you meet this criteria.
We do also have some P.C.R. Covid-19 tests available, but again there are strict guidelines from the MoH about this and most people will only need a R.A.T.
Our staff can advise if a P.C.R. is indicated for you.
If you have completed a R.A.T. at home and it has shown a positive result, please remember to register this on your ‘My Covid Record’ page. This will then notify public health, and also notifies your GP (although it can take a few days for your GP to receive this information).
If you are Covid-19 positive, you and everyone in your household must isolate.
If you are concerned about your general health, breathing, or have any chest pain, call IMC on 03 3516198 or Healthline on 0800-358-5453. If you need urgent medical help, call 111 and tell them you have COVID-19.
For information, support, and advice around being a COVID-19 case, visit https://covid19.health.nz/advice/positive.
Our nurses are happy to advise if you are uncertain about testing criteria, or have any questions that can’t be answered by looking at the MoH website: https://www.health.govt.nz/covid-19-novel-coronavirus/covid-19-health-advice-public.
We are also offering travel Covid-19 swabs, both R.A.T. and P.C.R., for enrolled patients.
Please call reception to book in for your pre-departure test.
Note: We are unable to advise the swab type or date required for travel. Please check the requirements of your destination country before booking in. P.C.R. test results take 24-48hours to return from the lab.
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Following today’s announcement by the Ministry of Health, we expect to be offering R.A.T. testing to patients by mid next week (3rd March 22). As at today’s date, we have not received supplies from M.O.H. for this testing. Until we have received these supplies we will continue to booking appointments for Nasal Pharyngeal (PCR) tests. Tests will only be available for patients who are Household contacts of a known positive case OR anyone who is Symptomatic. Please call reception to book an appointment.
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