Watch the footy and get immunised

11 May 2010

Tingha community members can watch the footy, get immunised and kick a goal for their health this month, thanks to an Inverell Community Health initiative.
A free immunisation stall will be set up at Tingha Sport and Recreation Club this Saturday 15 May from 11.30am. Free childhood and adult immunisations will be offered to Aboriginal community members, including Boosterix for whooping cough.
And both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal community members attending the footy will be offered free seasonal influenza vaccination.
The vaccine, which protects against Pandemic (H1N1) influenza and two other influenza strains, has been made available in time for the peak cold and flu season.
Community Health staff thought that offering the free service at a football game was an appealing, grassroots way of reinforcing the importance of childhood and adult immunisations.
Immunisation is a simple, safe way of protecting children and adults against harmful infections and diseases. The risks of these diseases – such as measles, whooping cough, polio, mumps and tetanus and flu – are far greater than the very small risks of immunisation.
Immunisation Registered Nurse at Inverell Community Health Centre, Leanne Fitzgerald, said childhood and adult diseases were very real and should not be underestimated.
Still of particular importance this year was vaccination against Pandemic (H1N1) influenza.
“An annual vaccination is the best line of defence against the flu,” Leanne said.
“The best time to be vaccinated against influenza is autumn, before the winter influenza outbreak. It takes about two weeks after vaccination to develop antibodies against influenza.”

(HNE-2255).

Contact: Carisa Green

Phone: 0428 106 183