Health Immunisations in Chatswood, Hornsby and Wentworth Point

Patients should have vaccines in the correct window and in time with the National Immunisation program’s schedule to ensure they are effectively protected from diseases. Vaccines protect against diseases such as:

• Cervical cancer
• COVID-19
• Hepatitis B
• Influenza
• Measles
• Meningitis
• Mumps
• Pneumonia

In Australia many vaccines are covered by the government and some additional immunisation injections are free for certain groups (children, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, pregnant and breastfeeding women, the immunocompromised and the elderly).

COVID-19 Vaccination

The COVID-19 vaccination is free for all patients to protect them and their community from COVID-19 disease. All vaccinations offered in Australia have been tested to ensure they are safe and effective vaccines against the diseases. Patients must ensure they are keeping their vaccines up to date, with at least two doses of the vaccine and a booster dose. We recommend patients that are over 50 to have a secondary booster as they are at a greater risk of developing a severe illness when COVID-19 positive. Those who are immunocompromised should receive a third dose of the vaccine to protect them from a severe reaction to COVID-19. The vaccines available in Australia are Pfizer, AstraZeneca, Moderna and Novavax and most vaccines need an eight week gap between each dose. We administer the vaccine via an injection into the upper area of your non-dominant arm.

Our team of medical professionals will ensure you are treated with care during your COVID-19 vaccination and that you are given the correct vaccine type for your individual needs. Reach out to our team if you have any questions about the COVID-19 vaccination.

International Travel Vaccines

When travelling overseas, whether for work or holidays, many patients require vaccines specific to the diseases prevalent in their travel destination. Here in Australia, we control several infectious diseases with vaccinations and therefore some diseases are no longer an issue for our communities. Some countries have wide-spread sickness that are different to Australia’s disease and require distinct vaccinations prior to travelling. If planning a trip, patients should see their GP between six and 12 weeks before leaving Australia to receive any needed, travel-related vaccinations. Getting vaccinated early allows patients to develop a full immunity to the disease they are vaccinated against, by the time they are ready to travel.

International health risks are constantly changing and therefore it is important to be up-to-date with your travel immunisations. Travel vaccines we offer include diseases such as:

• Tetanus
• Polio
• Pneumococcal disease
• Meningococcal disease
• Hepatitis A
• Yellow fever
• Cholera
• Rabies
• Tuberculosis
• Typhoid fever

We encourage pregnant women, babies, young children, the elderly and the immunocompromised to have an appointment at our travel vaccine clinic in Chatswood, Hornsby or Wentworth Point prior to travelling as these groups are at a higher risk of infection. If you are considering travelling and are unsure as to what vaccinations you’ll need, contact our clinic today and our friendly team will make sure you are updated and immunised for your next trip.

Occupational Vaccinations

In some occupations, the employees are at a greater risk of developing certain diseases. Vaccines can prevent these diseases from developing and therefore some workplaces will require their staff to be vaccinated before commencement. Occupations that adhere to specific workplace immunisation programs include healthcare and childcare workers, emergency or essential services, workers in remote areas, those who work with animals, laboratory workers and those who are in contact with human blood, tissue, bodily fluids and sewage. We recommend discussing your occupation with our friendly team if you are unsure about the vaccination requirements for your industry. Our team aims to educate you on minimising the spread of occupational-based diseases in the community by keeping immunised and maintaining cleanliness. Those who work with vulnerable people should be extremely careful when dealing with infectious diseases.

Here at Star Clinic we offer occupational vaccinations such as:

• Hepatitis A
• Hepatitis B
• Influenza
• Measles
• Mumps
• Rubella
• Whooping cough
• Chickenpox
• Tuberculosis

HPV Vaccinations

Human Papillomavirus (HPV) is a sexually transmitted disease (STD) that usually has no symptoms associated with it and eventually goes away without intervention. A major concern of HPV is that the disease can cause other serious illnesses. HPV infections can cause cancers in men and women such as mouth and throat, cervical, anal, vaginal, vulva and penile cancers. Whilst some birth controls can prevent patients from developing STDs, the best preventative method is to become vaccinated against HPV. We encourage patients to be vaccinated against HPV as these vaccinations have seen a decrease in cases of vaginal warts and precancerous lesions. We recommend parents to vaccinate their children against HPV as the ideal vaccination timing is before a patient it sexually active.

Influenza Vaccination

Influenza, otherwise known as the flu, is a highly contagious and wide-spread infection that attacks the viral system of the body. The flu is spread between the community through symptoms such as coughing and sneezing as well as close contact with an infected individual. Often compared to the common cold, the flu can develop quickly and linger for around a week, exacerbating some medical conditions. Influenza can worsen the patient’s immune system and cause serious illnesses to develop such as pneumonia and bronchitis. We encourage all patients to regularly receive an influenza vaccination to lessen the effects of the infection and protect the general community by reducing the spread of the flu.

Australian Immunisation Registry

If you are unsure as to what vaccinations you or your child has, the Australian Immunisation Register keeps a record of all vaccinations you have received. The Registry allows patients to monitor their vaccination records and plan immunisation services. Staying up-to-date with vaccinations protects those who are at a higher risk of developing these diseases: babies, young children, the elderly and the immunocompromised.