Archive for the ‘Vaccines’ Category
TB Vaccine ( BCG ) Brisbane
October 15th, 2013Yes we give BCG vaccine in our clinic in the Brisbane CBD (click here for details about appointments.) BCG is the vaccine used to protect against the disease Tuberculosis, also known as TB. BCG vaccine is not part of the routine Australian vaccines. This is because Tuberculosis is (thankfully) very rare in this country. However, in […]
Japanese Encephalitis Case from Thailand
August 30th, 2013A recent report of a traveller contracting Japanese Encephalitis (JE) in Thailand highlights the fact that ‘rare does not mean never’. This chap had a very common itinerary: Upon arriving in Thailand, he visited Bangkok during two days where he stayed in a hotel. On 28 January he travelled by bus to Surat Thani, and on […]
Rabies Vaccine for Travel – who needs it?
November 25th, 2012Rabies vaccine is a dilemma to many Australian travellers. Travellers seek advice from many sources, (eg doctors, Google, travel agents, fellow travellers etc) and often receive conflicting information about rabies. Some sources say have rabies vaccine, some say do not have rabies vaccine… Below is a typical question I receive.. My daughter, leaves for a […]
2012 Flu Vaccine now available
March 20th, 2012Even if you had an influenza vaccine last year, to stay protected you need to have a booster. The vaccine is effective for about 12 months. Influenza vaccination is especially worthwhile if you travel on public transport, or work with the general public or in healthcare. In Australia, the vaccine is FREE for persons over […]
Questions on Meningitis in Vietnam
March 5th, 2012We have had several phone calls asking about meningitis risk in travellers to Vietnam. There have been a few news reports about meningitis in children, and young adults. The baseline rate of meningococcal disease in the human population is about 1 per 100,000 population, so there will always be a few cases – the disease […]
An 11 year old girl died in the USA from Japanese Encephalitis (JE) after travelling to the Philippines for 3 weeks.
March 10th, 2011On July 18, 2010, a previously healthy little girl aged 11 years was hospitalized in Nevada, USA after 2 days of fever, headache, nausea, vomiting, and neck pain. During 21st June to 12th July, she had visited the Philippines with four relatives and had received numerous mosquito bites. (JE is contracted from a mosquito bite) […]
New Meningococcal Vaccine is coming soon
October 15th, 2010I have some great news that probably wont make it to the headlines of the local papers! I have just been to a meeting in Melbourne. A new vaccine for meningitis should be available in Australia in early November. This type of vaccine has been available in the USA for some years but is only […]
