With the uptake of COVID-19 boosters in NSW sitting at just over 51 per cent of the population, GPs can help encourage patients to get their vaccination boosters by:
Alleviating concerns about the safety of the booster dose
According to AusVaxSafety, an NCIRS-led collaboration, the number of adverse reactions to the booster of those who completed their survey was less than the number of adverse reactions reported to the second dose.
Highlighting the benefits of a booster dose
A booster dose will make sure the protection from the first two doses is even stronger and longer lasting, and should help prevent spread of the virus.
The booster dose will:
- protect you against severe illness and death from COVID-19
- prevent complications such as ‘long COVID’
- protect people who can’t be vaccinated due to medical conditions
- slow the spread of the virus
- keep hospitalisation rates at a level our health system can cope with
Ensuring they know catching COVID does not give you lasting immunity
People who have had COVID-19 and recovered should still be vaccinated. The protection someone gains from having COVID-19 varies from person to person. In addition, experts don’t yet know how long any natural immunity might last give it is a new virus. Vaccination is also important to protect people from severe disease.
Providing information about COVD vaccination in different languages
Information about COVID-19 vaccines has been translated into many different languages. This information is available on the Department of Health website.