Mobile immunisation service to protect vulnerable people in Maroondah from flu

26 April, 2018

Hundreds of people are planned to be immunised against the flu in Maroondah as part of an initiative funded by Eastern Melbourne PHN (EMPHN) and delivered by EACH to help protect our most vulnerable from influenza, which effected 36,118 Victorians in 2017.

The mobile immunisation service will visit communities vulnerable to influenza that may otherwise not become vaccinated against the virus due to access or cost, such as people who are pregnant, older, homeless, experience mental health issues, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander, from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, refugees and asylum seekers, children and carers.

Federal Member for Deakin, Michael Sukkar MP, said in Maroondah alone there were around 50 episodes of influenza hospital admissions in 2015-16 accounting for 480 days in hospital, and many more people were adversely effected.

“Influenza is a highly contagious disease that can be fatal to people in high risk groups,” he said.

“Providing easy access to the influenza vaccine at no cost aims to reduce the risk of people experiencing potential complications and keep our community out of hospital this flu season.”

EACH’s Outer East Primary Health Manager, Edmond Wong, said EACH is aiming for a meaningful impact on the health and wellbeing of our most at-risk community members this flu season.

“EACH’s accredited immunisation nurses will staff the clinics operating until Friday 8 June,” he said. 

“There will be multiple sites across Maroondah including Ringwood, Ringwood East, Croydon and Bayswater to date.

“The clinics will operate as ‘drop in’ clinics with no need to book an appointment.”

The next clinic will be held at EACH 75 Patterson St Ringwood East on 29 May, 1.00-5pm.

For enquiries, please contact EACH’s immunisation program on 9837 3957.

The service is based on an initiative EMPHN implemented in 2017 that saw almost more than 500 people from vulnerable communities in the City of Whittlesea immunised alongside an immunisation education program reaching 1200 people.

EMPHN’s $348,000 investment will see the initiative rolled-out in the local government areas of Boroondara, Knox, Manningham, Maroondah, Monash, Whitehorse, Whittlesea and Yarra Ranges within the EMPHN catchment.

The initiative is supported by funding from the Australian Government under the PHN program.

Photo opportunity: For a photo of the mobile immunisation occurring, contact Claire James, EMPHN Marketing and Communications Manager, claire.james@emphn.org.au 0425 887 397.

Eastern Melbourne PHN is a Primary Health Network funded by the Australian Government to improve the care and support people receive from health services. We aim to improve the health of our community by ensuring people receive the right care, in the right place, at the right time. www.emphn.org.au