Keep calm and get meningococcal jab

FOR new parents Nirintr and Rinlada Apiwantanakorn, immunising their son Tharin against the deadly meningococcal virus was a no-brainer.

One-year-old Tharin was one of more than 5000 young Tasmanian’s who received the free meningococcal ACWY jab at a vaccine clinic set up at the Derwent Entertainment Centre at the weekend, as part of the State Government’s public vaccination initiative.

Over the next three months, close to 100,000 shots will be available to anyone aged from six weeks to 21 years (born before August 1, 1997).

Ms Apiwantanakorn, who moved with her family to Tasmania from Thailand, said getting Tharin immunised against the virus before their holiday back to Thailand in the coming weeks was a top priority.

“We have a trip back home planned so I just want to make sure that everything will be fine before we leave,” she said.

“I’ve heard of the diagnosed cases of the virus so I wanted to make sure he will be safe.”

Ms Apiwantanakorn said the recent cases of meningococcal in the state haven’t caused her family any concern about living Tasmania.

“The available vaccinations have allowed us to feel that everything will be fine.”

Raj Chopra of Migrant Resource Centre Tasmania said the first of the state vaccination clinics at the DEC was well co-ordinated despite some migrant visitors experiencing confusion when booking their vaccine.

“The clinic was very well organised, well-structured for children and I didn’t notice any queues,” Mr Chopra said.

“The feedback I’ve received from a number of migrant patients who visited for the vaccine was the form they had to fill out was difficult to navigate so perhaps that’s something organisers can look at for future clinics.

“A lot of migrants don’t have a Medicare card, and while the registration required visitors to bring their card on the day, it seemed a few people were still vaccinated without a card.”

Further clinics will be held on August 18 and 19.