If you are eligible for your third COVID-19 vaccination book in and do it – that’s the clear message from Central Coast Local Health District (CCLHD).
Central Coast Public Health Unit Acting Director, Paul Byleveld, said many of those due for a booster had not yet booked one.
“We know across NSW that more than 95 per cent of the population have had two doses of vaccine – but only 52 per cent have had a third dose,” he said.
“Although the Ministry of Health doesn’t break the numbers down, we would expect those figures to be fairly constant across the state – and representative of the Central Coast.
“We know there are a lot of people who are eligible for a booster who haven’t had one and we would really recommend that third dose.”
Byleveld said immunity to the virus drops over time.
“The booster is an extra dose to help the immune system give better protection.
“It can strengthen the protection against infection up to 86 per cent and reduce the risk of serious illness by up to 98 per cent.
“This can really make a difference – especially with the Omicron variant.”
Byleveld said walk-in appointments were available at Gosford, Wyong and Long Jetty vaccination clinics with full details on the CCLHD website.
“It is recommended for everyone aged 16 and older to have a booster three months after their second vaccine,” he said.
“People with particular vulnerability, such as the immuno-compromised should talk to their GP about the possible need for a fourth dose.”
Byleveld said extra protection from the virus was especially important for pregnant women.
“If you contract the virus whilst pregnant you are at high risk and the vaccine is perfectly safe and recommended to have whilst pregnant,” he said.
While Pfizer is the preferred booster vaccine, he said clinic staff could discuss each person’s circumstance to make sure they were receiving the right vaccine.
He urged those who were as yet un-vaccinated to book their first appointment as soon as possible, with the new vaccine Novavax starting to make an appearance on the Coast.
For now it will be available only at the Long Jetty clinic on March 2, 9 and 16 – see details on the CCLHD Facebook page.
“We would really encourage the small proportion of people who have not had any vaccine to come forward to reduce the risk of falling sick and hospitalisation and we also encourage parents to arrange for their children aged five and upwards to be vaccinated, especially now school is back.”
Terry Collins