Dear Patients,

In our previous newsletter, we informed you the Port Melbourne Vaccination Clinic would be closing on 29 November, 2021. Whilst it was always our intention to provide our patients with a booster vaccine, the lack of dates and certainty, coupled with reduced bookings as Victoria sailed past 92% first dose meant it was not viable to continue. As it stands, Australia is set to become one of the most vaccinated countries in the world and this will hopefully give us back our cherished way of life.

We are now authorised to administer booster vaccines for COVID-19 and have made the decision to re-open the Port Melbourne Vaccination Clinic to provide booster doses. We will be open for select days in December 2021, and as always will honour any bookings already made for December. We are now taking bookings and delivering boosters to those who are eligible.

Booster Eligibility

You are eligible if you are now 6 months post your second dose.

ATAGI have stated that booster doses of COVID-19 vaccines are shown to mitigate against waning immunity, and are likely to be particularly beneficial in high risk groups (individuals with underlying medical conditions, individuals aged 50 and over, residents in aged care & disability facilities, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders adults, and those with increased occupational risk).

This time around they are not prioritising any groups for booster doses, however those in the early vaccination cohort will be the first to be due for their booster. There were many frontline workers who had their second vaccine in late March/early April, and those individuals are now due for their booster.
We are pleased to let you know that not only are all of our staff and doctors fully vaccinated, many are now triple vaccinated!

Which booster should I have?

As per ATAGI, Comirnaty (Pfizer) is recommended as a single booster dose, irrespective of the primary COVID-19 vaccine used. Although not preferred, Vaxzevria (AstraZeneca) can also be used as a booster dose in the following situations:

* For individuals who have received Vaxzevria (AstraZeneca) for their first two doses if there are no contraindications or precautions for use.
* If a significant adverse reaction has occurred after a previous mRNA vaccine dose which contraindicates further doses of mRNA vaccine (e.g., anaphylaxis, myocarditis).
ATAGI will make a recommendation on the potential use of Spikevax (Moderna) as a booster in due course.

When is a booster dose not yet recommended?

* Booster doses are not yet recommended for those under 18, as severe COVID-19 is uncommon in this age group, and the primary course of the COVID-19 vaccines generate a strong immune response, so the benefit from the additional doses of the vaccine is likely to be small. In addition, there are currently only very limited data on the safety of repeated mRNA vaccine doses in this age group.
* Those who received their second dose of a COVID-19 vaccine less than 6 months ago
* In severely immunocompromised individuals who have recently been recommended to receive a third dose of a primary COVID-19 vaccine, booster doses (i.e. 4th doses) are not yet recommended. ATAGI have stated they will provide further information on booster doses in this group soon.
Whilst the booster dose can maximise protection, it is still recommended all individuals continue risk mitigation strategies such as mask wearing and physical distancing where possible.

The facts:

1.  The booster vaccine will again be administered from the Port Melbourne Football Club-Sandridge Centre under the same protocols and processes. There may be some days that the vaccines occur out of Port Melbourne Medical, at 1/405 Bay St. This will be communicated to you at the time of booking.
2. At this point in time, regardless of if you previously had AstraZeneca, Pfizer or even Moderna, you will be administered Pfizer at the PMVC. If you have questions or would like to have the AstraZeneca, this will need to be discussed with a GP first. Very soon we will not be carrying the AstraZeneca and do not carry Moderna either.
3.  You will need to book via our website or the HotDoc App and select Pfizer COVID-19 Vaccine Dose 3.
4. Existing patients who had their previous doses at Port Melbourne Vaccination Clinic will not need to re-register.
5. Given 6 months has passed since your previous dose, you will be required to fill out your Covid consent form again. Some things have changed in the last 6 months and we want to keep you safe.
6. You will need to scan the QR code inside the Sandridge Centre.
7. Please wear a t-shirt.
8. Please wear a properly fitted mask whilst in the venue or security will ask you to leave. Be respectful of the staff and fellow vaccine patients – masks under your nose do not work!
9. Please bring your photo ID and any related medical history
   The nurses check each history on the Australian Immunisation Registry prior to giving the vaccine. Please don’t take an appointment spot if you’re not due for your dose. It must be a minimum of 6 months.

Important dates

1. The booster program has officially started.
2. We will be closed from Monday the 20th of December to January 17th, 2022 to give the team a decent break as most have not had meaningful leave in 18 months.
3. If your 6 month date lands in this break period you can take an appointment from the re commencement date. If we are able to open for a day during the break time, and you are due for your booster, we will contact you. This will only be for those who had their second dose at PMVC in June/July 2021.
4. The venue will scale up and down depending on demand. The long term future will depend on what the ongoing booster program looks like.
5. We are committed to vaccinating as many of our patients and people in the neighbourhood as possible and the same dedicated team will look after you.
6. Please be kind to the amazing reception team at Port Melbourne Medical. Unfortunately, we find out the plans during the press conferences as you do, and are not given time to open up appointments, change staffing or even make plans to accommodate. Quite often we find out about changes only as the phones start ringing.
7. We again would like to thank the Port Melbourne Football Club for their ongoing assistance and contribution in making this clinic a success.
8. We are also waiting eagerly to find out when we can vaccinate the 5-11 year olds. We will await formal guidance and plan to participate in delivering these vaccines as soon as we can.

For more information on booster doses – Click Here<https://portmelbournemedical.us8.list-manage.com/track/click?u=8b52617c2123ef857e8e0cce5&id=7f1c4f589b&e=abb3939811>

We would also like to remind everyone that although restrictions are easing, case numbers are still high.

Please continue to practice social distancing, wear your mask properly when you can’t social distance and to also practice infection control procedures like hand washing and coughing into your elbow.

In this past fortnight, Port Melbourne Respiratory Clinic alone has seen positive results from almost 30 local residents. If you are unwell, please get tested and isolate. Let’s keep each other and the community safe.