Elizabeth Miller the Business Relationship Manager from the Immunisation Coalition spoke with Larry James, Station Manager from the Golden Days Radio (GDR 95.7fm) about keeping up to date with your COVID-19 doses (3rd or 4th dose) and travel vaccinations. Listen below or read the transcript.
This interview took place on the 25th of November in 2022
Transcript
Larry Jones
Hello everyone, this is Larry Jones and welcome to another edition of Community Magazine. My guest this week is Elizabeth Miller. And Elizabeth is from the Immunisation Coalition. Hello, Elizabeth.
Elizabeth Miller
Hi, Larry, how are you today?
Larry Jones
I’m very well. Thank you. Thanks for coming in. You’re going to be talking a very important topic about all about the Immunisation Coalition. So tell us a bit about that.
Elizabeth Miller
Sure. Well, basically, I’m a the Business Relationship Manager at the Immunisation Coalition. And we are a non for profit organisation. And we’ve been around for about 30 years now. And we work with all health care practitioners, governments, community groups, and also the wider community. We advocate the importance of immunisation and vaccination for all Australians for all of life, which is quite relevant now. And I’m currently a registered nurse. And I’ve been in health care for about 40 years now. And I think I’ve just shared my age with your listeners there, Larry
Larry Jones
Now, whether you decide it is a very important, important thing. So can you tell our listeners about the relationship with COVID-19 vaccinations and other travel vaccinations, because that’s all come back now, hasn’t it?
Elizabeth Miller
It has, it has Larry and I think it’s very relevant and very real. And I guess, for the listeners there, the most important thing is that you’re up to date with your vaccinations. And that’s through talking to your doctor. Or you can talk to your pharmacist about that in more detail. But ultimately, to be fully vaccinated today is to have your third or fourth dose. That’s for vaccination. And also, to know that there’s choices out there for different vaccinations, so your doctor will be able to guide you and recommend as to what’s best for you. But I guess the other really important thing is, is simple things, Larry, like washing your hands, wearing a mask, keeping in well-ventilated areas, these are sort of simple things that everyone can do to keep safe.
Larry Jones
I think that’s one of the things I found, when all this came about, we suddenly realised we really should be washing our hands a lot more.
Elizabeth Miller
It’s a simple thing. And, and being a nurse, I mean, my sister used to call me Miss Domestos because it was washing my hands. But it’s simple, and it’s effective.
Larry Jones
Well, I think we’re keeping Glen 20 going.
Elizabeth Miller
You haven’t got shares in them, have you?
Larry Jones
I should have, no we do all of that, and the wipes and all that sort of thing. And we spray all our equipment with isopropyl and to keep it all tip top condition.
Elizabeth Miller
And you can pick up those little bottles of sanitiser from supermarkets, got them in my handbag, in my car, they’re everywhere. And the other important thing is for your listeners if they’re travelling, some countries today require you to be fully vaccinated with your COVID vaccines. So it’s important that you before you travel that you go and speak to your doctor, just to make sure that you’ve got everything correct before you travel. And also, depending on what country you go to, some vaccinations are required to take weeks in advance because it takes a couple of weeks for your body to build up that natural immunity. So if you do come in contact with it unknowingly, you’re not going to get as sick and potentially end up in hospital in another country, which we wouldn’t want that.
Larry Jones
No. Well, I suppose if you’re going overseas, assuming people are travelling, booking through a travel agent, they will know what injections to get.
Elizabeth Miller
Well, that’s a really interesting question, Larry, because I actually did go to my local travel agent last week actually, to find out what are the countries, a lot of people going to and they talked about going to Japan, they talked to me going to Thailand, to England and to America. And I asked the travel agent, were they having a conversation with their clients like a do you want travel insurance, asking them have you had your COVID vaccine or flu? Because if you’re going to the other sied of world you’re going into winter, so they’re important. She said, no, we can’t do that. So I thought that was really interesting, because it’s a medical advice, and therefore travel agents not qualified for that. So I would have thought it’d be a simple question. But I think the other really important thing, Larry, for your listeners, I mean, obviously, a lot of borders are open now summers coming, people are travelling interstate, or within country or even overseas, when you actually return, it’s a good idea to go and visit your GP, particularly if you have some signs or symptoms because you may have picked something up. You’ve had that little virus travelling with you, as you’ve gone around and you’ve come back, unknowingly getting symptomatic, then you can go to your doctor and get treatment self-isolate. So you’re protecting your loved one’s, your community. Yeah, it’s just thinking things a little bit further down the track compared to what we used to do.
Larry Jones
Well, I suppose if travel agents can’t give that advice out you ought to go to your medical practitioner. And I’m going to whatever country, what do I need to have?
Elizabeth Miller
That’s it. That’s it or your pharmacist, I mean, particularly if you wanting to know about the COVID or flu vaccinations, your pharmacist can also help you. So you’ve got those two resources there that can help you.
Larry Jones
Yeah.
Elizabeth Miller
We have to think differently these days.
Larry Jones
Well, we do don’t we? We don’t want it although there’s a lot is still around in the area is showing it’s it’s gonna peter out.
Elizabeth Miller
Well, I’m not… the experts are talking about that. But I think for all the listeners, it’s really important that you’re on your toes, as we’ve talked about; hand washing, mask keeping and well-ventilated areas and keeping up to date with your vaccinations. So if you do come in contact with the virus, unknowingly, you’re not going to get very sick and you potentially won’t present a hospital are certainly unlikely to end up in intensive care. There are extremes to that, of course, if you are and you have underlying issues, that obviously that’s confidential between you and your doctor. So but the vaccines are the best way to protect yourself and your loved ones.
Larry Jones
Yes, exactly. Yes. So tell us about the proportion of the community that are currently vaccinated.
Elizabeth Miller
Yeah, that’s a really good question. Larry, as of the 9th of November, according to the Australian government health and Aged Care website, nationally, 72.2% have had their third dose and those eligible for their fourth dos: 42.1%. So those numbers are still low. And we really need to do better. And we are we actually at the Immunisation Coalition. We do quarterly surveys, and I can tell you listeners hot off the press, that with some information that I received yesterday, 78% of the population understand that full vaccination is to have four doses. That was pretty good. But no offence here, Larry but it was the women that were more educated than the men so it was only marginal. But obviously the women are obviously looking out for their husbands and men have tended to sort of not really bother too much about their health.
Larry Jones
I’ve I’ve had my four.
Elizabeth Miller
Oh, good on you. That’s terrific.
Larry Jones
And I’ve just turned 70. So I’ve got to get my next jabs from the doctor, which is part of the health department. system for keeping every older Victorian or older Victorians healthy.
Elizabeth Miller
They are. And statistically, it is our seniors right around the country that are doing the best in terms of making sure that they’ve had the third or their fourth dose. So they are keeping up to date with their vaccinations, and they’re having that conversation with their doctor. So that’s just marvellous. I wish the younger people would follow because our seniors are certainly leading the way in that regard, which is terrific.
Larry Jones
Yes. So you’re saying seniors are managing their health immunisation really well, and that’s great to know. Tell us a bit about travel vaccinations, we sort of talked a little bit back there. What else do we need to know?
Elizabeth Miller
Yeah, so as I said, with, depending on what country you go to, will determine what vaccine is, is the one that you need, it’s either suggested or recommended. And your doctor can certainly help you out with that. What’s important to know most people don’t think about is preparing. So generally around six weeks is where you should be having the immunisation for that particular country that you’re going to, because sometimes, depending on the vaccine that you’re having, you’ll have to have potentially one, two, maybe three doses. So basically, you’re allowing your body to naturally build up that immunisation prior to departure. And that’s that’s something that a lot of people don’t often think about and as I said earlier, even when you do come back if you get symptoms, you know, you might have fever or runny nose or something, pop along to your doctor because you may have something that you weren’t aware of so that’s something that I found quite interested.
Larry Jones
Yeah, it’s certainly worth checking out isn’t? And of course if they’ve if people have got symptoms go visit your GP.
Elizabeth Miller
That’s it. That’s exactly right.
Larry Jones
They’ve got all the answers Well, hopefully all the answers
Elizabeth Miller
But I guess the main thing Larry is, you know, for those that are travelling, as I said, whether it be interstate or overseas is that you have fun. Just be aware that you’re giving yourself the ultimate protection and being up to date with all your vaccines. That’s all you can do.
Larry Jones
Yes. Well seniors are certainly out and about doing travel.
Elizabeth Miller
I think I think once people retire they actually have a busier life than what they did when they were working.
Larry Jones
Yes, I’ve just had a friend stay with me from the UK for a month. We did a bit of travelling, travelling up in New South Wales and you know, he’s, he’s fine. And he had to be very careful because he’s type two diabetic. And so he was very careful. And so I was I, and you know, but everywhere you go, lots of people milling around, some of them have probably forgotten the fact that you need a bit of air ventilation.
Elizabeth Miller
Yes. And that’s, that’s really important, particularly if you’re going you know, if you’re dining at a restaurant or something, if there’s an outdoor sort of space that might as long as not too cold, of course. But that will be certainly more practical. And the other really important thing very few listeners is, unfortunately, we’ve had the floods in a lot of regional Victoria. And with that, there’s a lot of mosquitoes popping up, now the weather is getting warmer. And so the mosquitoes can actually be a transport if you like, have some viruses as well. So it’s important if you are in that sort of environment where there is a lot of water, or it’s a bit warm, to just wear long sleeve covering, make sure you’ve got your Aerogard and repellents around.
Larry Jones
And a flyswatter.
Elizabeth Miller
As long as you don’t hit someone with it, and you swat the fly, or the mosquito. That could be quite interesting actually.
Larry Jones
So what’s your final words of advice to our listeners?
Elizabeth Miller
So as I said earlier, the really simple thing is just to keep up to date with your booster vaccinations, because that’s going to be the best protection for yourself. And that way, you can stay safe and stay well. And also, if you’re 50 years and older living in residential care, or people with underlying issues or a disability, it’s recommended that you have your fourth dose, but again, have that discussion with your doctor. And I think you’ll be in good health.
Larry Jones
So if somebody wants to contact your organisation, is that possible?
Elizabeth Miller
Yes, yes, by all means, they can go onto the internet on to the website and just type in “immunisation coalition” and we will come up and then you can go to our website. And there’s a lots of different areas that you can access. So if you want to know more information, there are some guides that can help you.
Larry Jones
Phone number at all? Or is it not necessarily manned all the time?
Elizabeth Miller
No, no. So I think the websites probably the best. We are out and about.
Larry Jones
Alright, Elizabeth, thank you very much for coming in today and telling us about immunisations, it’s all very important. We’ll have to get you back another time, because I’m sure this this is an ongoing situation, isn’t it?
Elizabeth Miller
Yes, it is. Thanks Larry, yeah, that’d be terrific. I’d enjoy that.
Larry Jones
Well, I’ve been talking to Elizabeth Miller today, and we’ll have another community magazine next week.