Preparing For and Protecting Against Winter Illnesses
As we enter the cooler months of the year, it is important to implement winter preparedness activities to ensure the health and safety of our community. Influenza (flu) cases tend to peak between June and September in Australia each year as the temperature starts to drop. Vaccination is the best protection against respiratory illnesses such […]
Encouraging Childhood Immunisation in Western Sydney and CALD Communities
Our annual Immunisation Bike Competition has officially started. This year, WentWest is celebrating eleven years of running the Immunisation Bike Competition in Western Sydney. Since the annual competition was developed in 2011, there have been 16,422 children immunised through the competition. How Practices Can Get Involved Every child who receives their 12-month, 18-month or four-year-old […]
A Decade of the Immunisation Bike Competition
Thursday 30 June 2022 We are delighted to announce that 2022 marks the 10-year anniversary of the Immunisation Bike Competition in Western Sydney. We would like to extend a big thank you to all the practices who have partnered with WentWest over the years to help promote childhood immunisation to the parents of 12-month, […]
EOIs now open for Immunisation Bike Competition
This year, WentWest is celebrating ten years of running the Immunisation Bike Competition in Western Sydney. Since 2011, WentWest has partnered with local general practices to promote childhood immunisation, vaccinating 16,422 children in the past decade. By taking part, practices help protect children and the wider community from serious diseases that can cause ongoing health […]
COVID-19 Vaccine: A Patient’s Experience
Jenni is a pharmacist working in a Western Sydney hospital and was one of the first people in her community to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. Vaccinated on the first day of the rollout at Rosedale Medical Practice, Jenni shared that she was very pleased that her GP was amongst the first selected by the […]
Western Sydney COVID-19 Vaccination Hubs – access for those eligible as 1b
The Western Sydney COVID-19 Vaccination Hubs are now opening to all people categorised as 1b under the NSW Health COVID-19 Vaccination roll out plan. People eligible for vaccination under Phase 1b are: Healthcare workers currently employed and not included in Phase 1a Household contacts of quarantine and border workers Critical and high-risk workers who […]
Getting the Timing Right with Vaccinations
Vaccination is our best defence against flu viruses. Behaviours such as increased handwashing and social distancing helped stop the spread of flu viruses in the community last year. Relaxing social distancing restrictions this year may allow flu viruses to recirculate, even if they were hardly seen in 2020. Under the National Immunisation Program, free flu vaccines are provided […]
2021 Seasonal NIP Influenza Vaccine Orders Open: What Does this Mean for Your Practice?
The online NSW State Vaccine Ordering Centre opened for flu vaccines orders on Monday 8 March. Practices should have received an email containing instructions for the commencement of Influenza vaccine ordering. Although social distancing and personal hygiene improvements due to COVID-19 have seen a decrease in flu presentations throughout NSW and Australia, it is important that people […]
Practices are Invited to Participate in a Free Trial: AuTOMATIC Study
To improve immunisation rates in Western Sydney, GPs are invited to be a part of the AuTOMATIC Study to determine whether personalised SMS reminders are effective for improving the uptake and timeliness of routine vaccination among children. This is a trial, and the cost of the SMS is free for participating practices. The latest data on […]
AuTOMATIC Study Aims to Improve Immunisation Rates in Western Sydney
To improve immunisation rates in Western Sydney, GPs are invited to be a part of the AuTOMATIC Study to determine whether personalised SMS reminders are effective for improving the uptake and timeliness of routine vaccination among children. The study is led by researchers at the Telethon Kids Institute, SmartVax in Perth, Western Australia and supported […]