Newsletters

Jamie Paea 7/26/21 Jamie Paea 7/26/21

Annual Influenza Vaccination

The Influenza vaccine will be available at Queen Street Doctors from Tuesday, 1st of April 2025.

It will protect against four strains of the influenza virus expected to circulate in our community this year, but it does not protect against COVID-19.

This year we are offering:

Influvac Tetra

This is the standard influenza vaccine manufactured using the traditional egg-based method. It can be given from 6 months of age.

It is free for people with certain health conditions or who are 65 years and older. For everyone else, it is $35 per dose.

Flucelvax Quad

This is a modern influenza vaccine that is 15% more effective than the standard influenza vaccine. It can be given to people aged 6 months or older and costs $45 per dose.

Fluad Quad (for people 65y+ only)

This vaccine contains an adjuvant, MF59, to enhance the immune response to the vaccine for stronger and prolonged protection compared to the standard influenza vaccine. If you are over the age of 65, you can opt to purchase this vaccine for $50.

Please be aware that you may be asked to wait up to 20 minutes after your vaccination to monitor for any adverse reactions.

For more information on Influenza vaccines, please visit:

https://www.immune.org.nz/vaccine/influenza-vaccine

https://www.fluvaccine.co.nz/flucelvax-quad-full

https://www.fluvaccine.co.nz/fluad-quad-full

To make an appointment with the nurse or check if you are eligible for the free vaccine, please call us on 09 373 4055.

Covid Vaccines

Anyone who has completed a primary course will be eligible to get another booster if you are:

Aged 30 and over or
At higher risk of severe illness from COVID-19 and;
It has been at least 6 months since their last COVID-19 booster or positive COVID-19 test.

People at higher risk of severe illness from COVID-19 will also be able to receive an additional booster, regardless of how many doses they have previously had.

Travelling

If you’ll be travelling overseas in the near future, please make sure to book a travel consultation with one of our doctors a month before you depart. They will review which vaccinations are required for your destination and will determine the best timing to receive them. Once everything has been confirmed, we’ll be able to administer the vaccines on site.

Weight Loss Appointments

If you would like to explore a new option to lose weight, book a Weight Loss appointment with Dr Margaret Legge. They will discuss whether Saxenda is appropriate for you. For more information, you can visit https://www.saxenda.com/

HPV Primary Screening

The National Cervical Screening Programme is changing the way cervical screening is done in Aotearoa New Zealand, with the introduction of human papillomavirus (HPV) Testing. The new test will be easier to use and will identify more pre-cancers.

From September 12th, patients will now have the option to either collect their own sample via a self-test vagina swab, request one of our doctors to collect the sample with a vaginal swab or choose to have our doctor take a sample from your cervix (a smear test).

For more information, please visit Time to Screen: https://www.timetoscreen.nz/cervical-screening/

We all hope these holidays will be great for you and your families and we look forward to seeing you next year.

The Team at Queen Street Doctors.

Brian Lam 5/29/19 Brian Lam 5/29/19

Measles Vaccines

It all begins with an idea.

Adults are considered immune to measles if:

you have had two doses of the Measles Mumps and Rubella vaccine (MMR) as long as the first dose was when you were aged over 12 months.
or you have been infected with measles in the past
or you were born before 1969 (you are considered immune due to the prevalence of the disease in the community prior to the introduction of the MMR vaccine in 1969).

Children aged 12 months or older are considered fully immune if:

they have had two documented MMR vaccinations, the first dose given after age 12 months of age and the second dose at least 4 weeks later. (The NZ schedule is for first dose at age 15 months and second dose at age 4 years.)
If your child is aged between 15 months ( 12 months in some cases) and 4 years, they will have had one dose of MMR and this gives 95% coverage, but the second dose could be given early if there is deemed to be a particular risk.

You may not be immune if:

you were born after 1969 and you haven’t got documented evidence of two MMR vaccinations.
you have had two MMRs, but the first one was at age under 12 months ( you may need a third MMR)
a child is under 15 months of age and hasn’t yet had their first MMR vaccination.
you have had recent exposure or come from a high prevalence country
you or your child have/has not been immunised for some other reason

If you do not remember what you or your child have/has received, please check your vaccination history.

Sometimes your vaccination records are recorded in your Plunket / Well Child / Baby book / old GP medical records. Your parents or guardians may have this book with them. We ask that you check with your family and send us a copy of the records.

We are happy to review this record for you, to check whether or not you need a catch-up course. We will also use this information to update your medical records.

If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact us on 09 373 4055.

Brian Lam 5/29/19 Brian Lam 5/29/19

Meningococcal Vaccines

It all begins with an idea.

There has been a lot of media attention about the recent meningococcal outbreaks in New Zealand. Meningococcal disease is a serious bacterial infection that causes meningitis (swelling of the brain membranes) and septicaemia (blood poisoning). It can be quite difficult to diagnose as the initial symptoms appear similar to a bad cold of flu. It can develop quickly and immediate medical attention and treatment with antibiotics is very important.

There are vaccines available to protect against most of the different serogroups (types) of bacteria that cause Meningococcal disease. The types that cause most disease are A. B, C, W, and Y. Unfortunately, no single vaccine offers protection against all of these types but there are vaccines available that cover specific types.

The available vaccines are:

Nimenrix and Menactra protects against Meningococcal A, C, W and Y.
Bexsero protects against 4 strains of Meningococcal Group B.

It takes at least 2 weeks for the vaccines to work after vaccination.

Until now, these vaccines have not been funded but on December 1st 2019, PHARMAC began funding ONE dose of the Menactra vaccine for young people aged 13 to 25 years, who satisfy their criteria for the free vaccine.

Coming in for this free vaccine is a good opportunity to have a youth check-up and discuss the pros and cons of the other non-funded vaccines.

If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact us on 09 373 4055.

For more information about Meningococcal disease, please visit:

For more information about the available vaccines, please visit: