COVID-19

Managing COVID at home

Most people who test positive for COVID-19 will likely only experience mild symptoms and recover without requiring special treatment or hospitalisation, especially if fully vaccinated. The majority will be able to self-manage their illness by referring to the RACGP’s COVID-19 patient guide.

https://www.racgp.org.au/FSDEDEV/media/documents/Clinical%20Resources/Guidelines/Managing-mild-COVID-19-at-home-with-assistance-from-your-GP.pdf

If you want to talk to your usual GP about your results or any symptoms please make a telehealth appointment.

Calling 000

Patients experiencing worsening or severe COVID-19 symptoms to call 000 immediately.

COVID-19 winter booster doses

An additional booster dose is available for people at higher risk of COVID-19 this winter.
This includes people who are 65 years or older, a resident of an aged care or disability care facility, severely immunocompromised or Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander and aged 50 years and older.

COVID-19 VACCINES ARE NOW IN STOCK

Ashgrove West Group Practice is pleased to advise that we are an approved vaccination provider for the COVID-19 vaccine. We are happy to help provide COVID-19 immunisation for our local area and wider community.

Checking when you can receive your COVID-19 vaccine To find out when you are eligible to receive the vaccine, visit https://covid-vaccine.healthdirect.gov.au/eligibility and complete the COVID-19 Vaccine Eligibility Checker. This will tell you which phase of the rollout you are in.

Booking your COVID-19 vaccination appointment

When it is your turn to get vaccinated, you can call us on 3366 3544 to book your appointments to get your first and second doses of the vaccine.

You can also book on our website online www.ashgrovewestgp.com.au, or come in to the Practice.

The preferred minimum interval between a seasonal influenza vaccine and a COVID-19 vaccine is 7 days.

Getting ready for your appointment

• Before your vaccination appointment, you should make sure your details are up to date with Medicare.

• If you don’t have your account set up, you can:
• enrol in Medicare, if you’re not already enrolled
• set up your Medicare online account if you’re enrolled in Medicare, but don’t have Medicare linked to myGov, or
• get an Individual Health Identifier (IHI), if you’re not eligible for Medicare.
• You can also read this patient factsheet developed by the Australian Government Department of Health: https://www.health.gov.au/resources/publications/covid-19-vaccination-preparing-for-covid-19-vaccination

• Please note, if you don’t have a Medicare card, or are not eligible for Medicare, you can get your free vaccination at a Commonwealth Vaccination Clinic or a state or territory vaccination clinic. More information is available on the Department of Health website.

• Please do not come to your vaccination appointment:
• if you are feeling unwell with fever, cough, runny nose or other symptoms that could be from COVID-19
• if you are waiting for COVID-19 test results, or have tested positive for COVID-19
• if you are a close contact of someone with COVID-19, or
• if you are in quarantine

• To keep you and your community safe, before and after vaccination, it is important that you continue to:
• Stay 1.5 metres away from other people and avoid handshakes and contact with people outside your household.
• Stay home if you feel unwell and get tested for COVID-19. You must stay at home until your results come back.
• Wash your hands regularly with soap and water or use hand sanitiser.
• Always cough or sneeze into your arm or a tissue and put the tissue in the bin straight away.

To learn more about COVID-19 vaccines, visit health.gov.au