Vaccination-site pain is now a recognised adverse effect, and adequate pain management strategies should be incorporated into every vaccination.
The success of the nation’s COVID-19 vaccine program reflects the trust the people of Australia have in their general practices and their general practitioners.
The COVID-19 pandemic has affected all aspects of our lives, including routine immunisation coverage.
With escalating COVID-19 misinformation and conspiracy theories, it is vital to understand community views and set realistic expectations to avoid lack of confidence and erosion of trust.
Key immunisation issues include maternal vaccination, allergy, revaccination after vaccine-proximate seizures, BCG vaccination and the general practitioner’s role in the rollout of a COVID-19 vaccine.
The aim of this study was to assess the knowledge of Australian general practitioners regarding Zostavax.
While influenza vaccine uptake in older Australian adults is fairly high, uptake in younger at-risk adults is suboptimal.
Vaccine-proximate seizures require careful evaluation of the vaccines involved, seizure type and duration to determine a safe course for revaccination.
While it is important to investigate and understand the role of the BCG vaccine in other areas, this should not be at the expense of its proven use for tuberculosis protection.
The host immune system appears to have a fundamental role in almost all human disease.
People who are immunosuppressed may benefit from deferring vaccination.
Myocarditis and pericarditis need to be considered as a differential, especially in adolescents or young adults presenting with acute chest pain, shortness of breath or palpitations.
The Australian public has benefited greatly from the manifold contributions of general practice throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.