‘No man is an island’, wrote John Donne in 1624. It’s as true today as it was then; perhaps more so in our connected world and economy. Australia is a wealthy island and arguably the best place in the world at any time, and especially during a pandemic. COVID-19 has been to health what the GFC was to the economy in 2008-9. How do we move forward? Jeremy Irons’ character in Margin Call gives three ways: ‘Be first, be smartest, or cheat. I don’t cheat and it’s a hell of a lot easier to be first than smartest’.
Not Jeremy Irons
Australia has benefitted from being a wealthy island and we have been spared from the mortality and morbidity of COVID-19. We can see India struggling with this now (click here to help them out!). How can we move forward? Dr Nick Coatsworth, moving on from his widely quoted ‘make your bed‘, says vaccination. Like me, he thinks zeroism is a false god. Like me, he thinks voluntary vaccination is the way to go. What will that take?
Many of you may have concerns about the vaccines; here is some reading and I will get some more information up in the next couple of days. Let’s get open and move forwards!
PartridgeGP works with you to help you make your best health decisions, and we won’t back away from being your companion, guide, advisor, and sounding board through your health journey. We pride ourselves on great communication and we’re ready to share our professional skills and knowledge with you. This is only MORE important now with new vaccines here to END the pandemic. The way forward is clear: make your appointment with us conveniently online right here – or call our friendly reception team on 82953200.
Better, for you.
Want more?
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If you’re employed, get a side hustle and get into business. If you’ve already got a business, get a network. Want to get started? Find your tribe here!
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If you are a great GP or a great Allied Health Professional, and you want to serve your clients or patients to the best of your ability, without worrying about all the non clinical things that get in your way, lets talk. Call Mrs Hayley Roberts on 8295 3200 and have a coffee and chat with us as to how PartridgeGP can help you to help others.
The Australian Government is expecting approval of safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines by the end of this month, with a rollout to priority groups beginning mid-February. In addition to being able to administer the vaccine when available, healthcare professionals will also be able to receive the vaccine in the following rollout phases:
Phase 1a
Frontline at-risk health care workers including staff in GP respiratory clinics and COVID-19 testing facilities, ambulance staff, paramedics, ICU and emergency department staff and clinical and ancillary support staff Residential aged care and disability care staff Residential aged care and disability care residents Quarantine and border workers
COVID-19 Vaccine Roll-out to RACFs
*The information provided in this section is relevant to residential aged care facilities (RACFs). Information relating to general practice and other health providers will be distributed as it becomes available. The Australian Government has commenced the COVID-19 vaccine roll-out across Australia, with RACF residents being among the first who can choose to receive the vaccine. Phase 1a of the vaccine roll-out is due to commence next week in some RACFs, with only the residents of the facilities able to receive the vaccine in the first instance. The Department of Health has released a COVID-19 vaccine aged care readiness toolkit to assist RACFs in planning for the vaccine roll-out and preparing facilities for vaccination. The toolkit includes a Site Readiness Checklist and Written Consent Form.
Information is available for aged care workers and residents, their families and representatives to help make an informed decision about COVID-19 vaccination.
As with all other vaccines, valid consent is required before administering each COVID-19 vaccine dose.
Workers and residents may choose to talk to a health professional about the benefits and risks of vaccination. This will help to decide if vaccination is suitable.
The following resources will assist in deciding about COVID-19 vaccination:
Consent by a guardian or substitute decision-maker
Some jurisdictions have specific requirements relevant to guardians (or substitute decision-makers) consenting on behalf of another person.
If consenting to participate in the COVID-19 vaccination program on behalf of an aged care resident, refer to the enduring guardianship legislation in your state or territory for more information.
Phase 1b
Adults over 70 years All other health care workers Begin to vaccinate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people Younger adults with an underlying medical condition, including those with a disability Critical and high risk workers including defence, police, fire, emergency services and meat processing.
Vaccine eligibility checker
The vaccine eligibility checker, hosted by healthdirect, is now live. Users are asked a number of questions relating to age, location, occupation and underlying medical conditions to determine whether they’re currently eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine. If you’re eligible to receive the vaccine under phase 1a, vaccinations will be organised by your employer, or facility where you consult, who will contact you to provide further information on how to receive your vaccination.
Some information for those whose first language isn’t English:
The Department of Health have developed a stakeholder pack for multicultural audiences with information on the COVID-19 vaccines.
The pack contains in-language communication resources and key messages to inform and educate everyone in Australia about the COVID-19 vaccines. Resources in the pack include audio files, videos, social media content, posters and factsheets.
You can also find a letter from Dr Lucas De Toca, Assistant Secretary of the COVID-19 Primary Care Response at the Australian Government Department of Health, about how you can help support in sharing the latest information.
Provisional approval of the University of Oxford/AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine is currently anticipated in February 2021, subject to regulatory requirements being met. Both vaccines will progressively be distributed through an expanded number of sites, including general practice clinics, existing Commonwealth GP respiratory clinics, state-run vaccination clinics and pharmacies.
Over-65s and the AstraZeneca vaccine
The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) has provisionally approved the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine for use in Australia for people 18 years of age and over.The TGA statement notes, ‘There are currently limited data available for the efficacy and safety in individuals over 65 years of age. However, the vaccine has been shown to create an immune response in this group and can be used based on the efficacy and safety demonstrated in the general clinical trial population. The decision to immunise an elderly patient should be decided on a case-by-case basis’.
In his General Practice COVID-19 update newsletter, Deputy Chief Medical Officer Professor Michael Kidd states, ‘There is no requirement for people over the age of 65 to discuss with their GP whether they should or should not have the AstraZeneca vaccine, unless they are very frail and/or rapidly approaching the end of life. Patients who are very frail, or their carers, are advised to discuss any vaccination with their GP’.
All vaccines used in Australia must be approved by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA). The TGA assesses the safety, quality and effectiveness of vaccines before they are registered for use.
COVID-19 vaccines will be free for everyone living in Australia and the Government has made it clear that COVID-19 vaccination will be voluntary – but it is strongly encouraged. More information about training for health professionals will be available in the coming weeks that will cover vaccine specific information, multi-dose vials, infection control, wastage, and adverse event reporting.
The Department of Health developed a new vaccine website so you can stay informed. This website is regularly being updated with more information as it becomes available. Information will also be available in 63 languages. Subscribe to the COVID-19 vaccines updates to ensure you receive the latest updates available on the website. Thanks to the AMA for all of this – become a member!
In summary, version 1.0
PartridgeGP works with you to help you make your best health decisions, and we won’t back away from being your companion, guide, advisor, and sounding board through your health journey. We pride ourselves on great communication and we’re ready to share our professional skills and knowledge with you. This is only MORE important now, in the time of a global pandemic with a new vaccine on the horizon. The way forward is clear: make your appointment with us conveniently online right here – or call our friendly reception team on 82953200.
Better, for you.
Want more?
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Photo by Miguel u00c1. Padriu00f1u00e1n on Pexels.com
If you’re employed, get a side hustle and get into business. If you’ve already got a business, get a network. Want to get started? Find your tribe here!
Photo by Miguel u00c1. Padriu00f1u00e1n on Pexels.com
If you are a great GP or a great Allied Health Professional, and you want to serve your clients or patients to the best of your ability, without worrying about all the non clinical things that get in your way, lets talk. Call Mrs Hayley Roberts on 8295 3200 and have a coffee and chat with us as to how PartridgeGP can help you to help others.
Is there a plan? Yes, there is. More accurately, a roadmap!
Australia’s COVID-19 Vaccine Roadmap
The Australian Government is expecting approval of safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines by the end of this month, with a rollout to priority groups beginning mid-February. In addition to being able to administer the vaccine when available, healthcare professionals will also be able to receive the vaccine in the following rollout phases:
Phase 1a
Frontline at-risk health care workers including staff in GP respiratory clinics and COVID-19 testing facilities, ambulance staff, paramedics, ICU and emergency department staff and clinical and ancillary support staff Residential aged care and disability care staff Residential aged care and disability care residents Quarantine and border workers
Phase 1b
Adults over 70 years All other health care workers Begin to vaccinate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people Younger adults with an underlying medical condition, including those with a disability Critical and high risk workers including defence, police, fire, emergency services and meat processing.
Provisional approval of the University of Oxford/AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine is currently anticipated in February 2021, subject to regulatory requirements being met. Both vaccines will progressively be distributed through an expanded number of sites, including general practice clinics, existing Commonwealth GP respiratory clinics, state-run vaccination clinics and pharmacies.
COVID-19 vaccines will be free for everyone living in Australia and the Government has made it clear that COVID-19 vaccination will be voluntary – but it is strongly encouraged. More information about training for health professionals will be available in the coming weeks that will cover vaccine specific information, multi-dose vials, infection control, wastage, and adverse event reporting.
The Department of Health developed a new vaccine website so you can stay informed. This website is regularly being updated with more information as it becomes available. Information will also be available in 63 languages. Subscribe to the COVID-19 vaccines updates to ensure you receive the latest updates available on the website. Thanks to the AMA for all of this – become a member!
In summary, version 1.0
PartridgeGP works with you to help you make your best health decisions, and we won’t back away from being your companion, guide, advisor, and sounding board through your health journey. We pride ourselves on great communication and we’re ready to share our professional skills and knowledge with you. This is only MORE important now, in the time of a global pandemic with a new vaccine on the horizon. The way forward is clear: make your appointment with us conveniently online right here – or call our friendly reception team on 82953200.
Better, for you.
Want more?
Photo by Miguel u00c1. Padriu00f1u00e1n on Pexels.com
Photo by Miguel u00c1. Padriu00f1u00e1n on Pexels.com
If you’re employed, get a side hustle and get into business. If you’ve already got a business, get a network. Want to get started? Find your tribe here!
Photo by Miguel u00c1. Padriu00f1u00e1n on Pexels.com
If you are a great GP or a great Allied Health Professional, and you want to serve your clients or patients to the best of your ability, without worrying about all the non clinical things that get in your way, lets talk. Call Mrs Hayley Roberts on 8295 3200 and have a coffee and chat with us as to how PartridgeGP can help you to help others.
Many of you will be concerned about COVID19 vaccines – especially the mRNA vaccines (because they are new!). Let’s reclaim copium and hopium and give some more reassuring information.
While the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine had already been approved for use on 25 January, reports of around 30 deaths among more than 40,000 older Norwegian people who received the vaccine prompted the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) to further investigate its suitability for that cohort. But the regulator has determined that older patients can receive the mRNA vaccine, with no cap on the upper age limit.
‘The TGA therefore has concluded that there is no specific risk of vaccination with the Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine in elderly patients.’ Broader discussions with regulators in North America, the UK and Europe reportedly reached a similar conclusion, while the EMA’s COVID-19 vaccine safety update contains further information that helped the TGA form its decision.
In the second phase of vaccine rollout, with the Oxford/Astra Zeneca vaccine (a more traditional vaccine), Australian General Practice and PartridgeGP will do our bit to get those who want to be vaccinated protected ASAP, at scale, as safely as we can. Our plans are well advanced. It is super important to us to play our part – and important that people are informed, and not coerced. We can see that countries and areas overseas – the UK, Europe, the US – are being more affected by COVID, and they are having to take more risks than us. We will learn from them. We will have their data and experiences to look upon before we take the plunge ourselves.
Remember, I’ve also written about risk, here, and here. Bayesian thinking is probabilistic thinking – rather than this will or won’t happen, we consider what is more or less likely to happen. This applies to risk. As Jim O’Shaughnessy has said, ‘we are deterministic creatures living in a probabilistic world’. We want certainty. We get probabilities. Vaccines are not 100% effective or 100% safe (NOTHING IS). Neither are masks, nor social distancing, nor even simple hand sanitiser. Yet all of these, little by little, piece by piece, will lower our risk so we can get back to the new normal of life. Better probabilities, not 100% certainty.
Let’s act.
PartridgeGP works with you to help you make your best health decisions, and we won’t back away from being your companion, guide, advisor, and sounding board through your health journey. We pride ourselves on great communication and we’re ready to share our professional skills and knowledge with you. This is only MORE important now, in the time of a global pandemic with a new vaccine on the horizon. The way forward is clear: make your appointment with us conveniently online right here – or call our friendly reception team on 82953200.
Better, for you.
Want more?
Photo by Miguel u00c1. Padriu00f1u00e1n on Pexels.com
Photo by Miguel u00c1. Padriu00f1u00e1n on Pexels.com
If you’re employed, get a side hustle and get into business. If you’ve already got a business, get a network. Want to get started? Find your tribe here!
Photo by Miguel u00c1. Padriu00f1u00e1n on Pexels.com
If you are a great GP or a great Allied Health Professional, and you want to serve your clients or patients to the best of your ability, without worrying about all the non clinical things that get in your way, lets talk. Call Mrs Hayley Roberts on 8295 3200 and have a coffee and chat with us as to how PartridgeGP can help you to help others.
So, personally I’ve been one month OFF alcohol now. I’ve booked in to run a half marathon and will get back towards the glory days! However, I’ve still made time to catch up with Doug Phillips of Hallmark Commerical and his Men’s Health group, at some pub venues around Adelaide. For me, there has been no beer. For others, a couple. No one has felt the need for more. It’s been great. Enough about me, let’s hand over to the man, the myth, the legend – Doug Phillips!
Before we start here, it’s probably important to clarify that I’m not a Health Care Professional. Not at all. In fact, I’m a construction industry professional. By now you may be wondering what business I have writing a blog about men’s health for a medical practice, and that makes two of us. But here we are, so let’s just see where this goes.
The closest I come to being qualified to comment on anything health-related is my association with a group that (funnily enough), revolves around two topics that are normally considered ‘unhealthy’. Beer and pub food. I organise a group of blokes who get together once a fortnight at a different pub each week, to have a few beers and enjoy some pub grub.
PARMY AND A PINT.
Beer and parmys aren’t the focus of the group though. They are the two interests we all have in common, but the group is actually about promoting men’s health. Our fortnightly meetups are designed to be an environment where men can talk openly about anything they want, which promotes discussions about physical and mental health. Two topics that Australian men are notorious for neglecting.
Most of the time we just talk non-health-related stuff though. Sport, women, work, kids, the usual topics. Occasionally something will come up in conversation that leans more towards a mental health discussion, and that’s great, but not imperative. Just having a space where men can feel relaxed and off-guard without fear of being labelled weak or a “pussy”, is often all the respite required to allow men to relax and recharge.
THIS IS NO ‘LOCKER ROOM’.
The group is organised through a Facebook group, which can be a risk sometimes. We aim to be non-judgemental and promote healthy attitudes. But a group consisting solely of blokes can sometimes find itself with memes or other content posted that border on sexist or unhealthy. For example, the relationship between men, their women, and their beer, or jokes about drinking that seem funny at first, until you drill down and realise that they are only funny due to our unhealthy attitudes towards drinking in Australian culture.
So neither the group, its outcomes, its members, or its management are perfect, but that’s part of the point really. In a world where men can often feel like we’re expected to be perfect, while constantly having it pointed out how far from perfect we are, sitting back with a beer and a deep-fried chunk of meat amongst other men who don’t expect perfection is a little vacation in the lives of men who want to do better, and are actively attempting to do so.
SCIENCE TOLD ME TO DO IT.
There are a plethora of articles out there suggesting that beers with your mates down the pub is actually good for your health (Google “Study Suggests Blokes Should Enjoy A Pint At The Pub With Their Mates Twice A Week“). So if you’re finding that you often feel frustrated, anxious, depressed, unsatisfied, or any other negative emotions, perhaps what you need is a pint at the pub with your mates, but regularly.
FOR THE GREATER GOOD.
And Ladies, please don’t take this just as an excuse for your man to get on the piss. That’s not what this is about. In fact, men who look after their mental health well are generally better husbands, fathers, and members of society. I might be that all you need to do to help your man be the best man he can be, is to drop him off at the pub and pick him up a few hours later. Pretty easy really. I know less about women’s health than I do men’s health even, but logic would suggest that a regular pub night for you Ladies would be a great idea too.
Thanks Doug, love your work (and if you think his writing is good, wait until you see how good he is at his day job!). Men, if you’re keen to explore this further – in a group, or in a consult, hit the links above or below, for the NOMAD Hotel Social Club, or PartridgeGP!
PartridgeGP works with you to help you make your best health decisions, and we won’t back away from being your companion, guide, advisor, and sounding board through your health journey. We pride ourselves on great communication and we’re ready to share our professional skills and knowledge with you. This is only MORE important now, in the time of a global pandemic with a new vaccine on the horizon. The way forward is clear: make your appointment with us conveniently online right here – or call our friendly reception team on 82953200.
Better, for you.
Want more?
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Photo by Miguel u00c1. Padriu00f1u00e1n on Pexels.com
If you’re employed, get a side hustle and get into business. If you’ve already got a business, get a network. Want to get started? Find your tribe here!
Photo by Miguel u00c1. Padriu00f1u00e1n on Pexels.com
If you are a great GP or a great Allied Health Professional, and you want to serve your clients or patients to the best of your ability, without worrying about all the non clinical things that get in your way, lets talk. Call Mrs Hayley Roberts on 8295 3200 and have a coffee and chat with us as to how PartridgeGP can help you to help others.
It’s Sunday, chill out. Get with the 5G (no, not the phones that people get so stressed about):
Good friends Get some exercise Great food Get out in the sun Gratitude
One day of rest won’t lead to this!
PartridgeGP works with you to help you make your best health decisions, and we won’t back away from being your companion, guide, advisor, and sounding board through your health journey. We pride ourselves on great communication and we’re ready to share our professional skills and knowledge with you. This is only MORE important now, in the time of a global pandemic with a new vaccine on the horizon. The way forward is clear: make your appointment with us conveniently online right here – or call our friendly reception team on 82953200.
Better, for you.
Want more?
Photo by Miguel u00c1. Padriu00f1u00e1n on Pexels.com
Photo by Miguel u00c1. Padriu00f1u00e1n on Pexels.com
If you’re employed, get a side hustle and get into business. If you’ve already got a business, get a network. Want to get started? Find your tribe here!
Photo by Miguel u00c1. Padriu00f1u00e1n on Pexels.com
If you are a great GP or a great Allied Health Professional, and you want to serve your clients or patients to the best of your ability, without worrying about all the non clinical things that get in your way, lets talk. Call Mrs Hayley Roberts on 8295 3200 and have a coffee and chat with us as to how PartridgeGP can help you to help others.
Whether it’s in person, online, written, spoken, or a combination – we pride ourselves on our teamwork, people, and culture and we’re ready to share our professional skills and knowledge with you. This is only MORE important now, in the time of a global pandemic with a new vaccine on the horizon. The way forward is clear: make your appointment with us conveniently online right here – or call our friendly reception team on 82953200.
Take the next steps!
Photo by Miguel u00c1. Padriu00f1u00e1n on Pexels.com
Photo by Miguel u00c1. Padriu00f1u00e1n on Pexels.com
If you’re employed, get a side hustle and get into business. If you’ve already got a business, get a network. Want to get started? Find your tribe here!
Photo by Miguel u00c1. Padriu00f1u00e1n on Pexels.com
If you are a great GP or a great Allied Health Professional, and you want to serve your clients or patients to the best of your ability, without worrying about all the non clinical things that get in your way, lets talk. Call Mrs Hayley Roberts on 8295 3200 and have a coffee and chat with us as to how PartridgeGP can help you to help others.
Ishant Sharma and Bhuvneshwar Kumar never even got on a plane. Rohit Sharma got delayed. Virat Kohli went home after one. KL Rahul was injured without playing. Mohammad Shami almost lost his arm after one Test. Umesh Yadav limped off after three innings. Ravindra Jadeja virtually had his thumb removed. Rishabh Pant had to get scans. Hanuma Vihari’s hamstring looks shot. 17 players have been used in three Tests. They might play as many as 19 to finish the series.
India were beset by injuries and departures as you can read above. They still won the series. Perhaps they won because the Australians were fatigued after back to back to back games in a bubble. Perhaps the injection of fresh faces, fresh minds, and fresh bodies gave them an edge. Perhaps the better team just won, against all odds. The better team.
General Practice always involves teamwork – Your GP knows a fair bit about a lot, but there are always subject matter experts or specialists. We have Physiotherapy with Rod and Movement Theory, and Podiatry with Rosie from Foot and Sole Podiatry onsite, and we have THREE awesome psychologists to help your mental health and wellbeing – Mr Mark Edwards, Ms Monika Kolta, and introducing Ms Jen Riches!
Our newer GPs and Registrars back up our more established GPs. Perhaps the injection of fresh faces, fresh minds, and fresh thinking give us an edge. Perhaps the better team will just win. The better team. PartridgeGP is founded on you having your own great GP, and we will always endeavour to have you see your own great GP. When this isn’t possible, when your GP is away, or when you need to be seen at short notice, isn’t it awesome that ALL of the GPs here take comprehensive notes, share information, and practice with the same ethos. You get the best of both worlds – the care, attention, and relationship with YOUR GP, and the benefits of our medical and nursing team as a backup and a bonus.
We pride ourselves on our teamwork, people, and culture and we’re ready to share our professional skills and knowledge with you. This is only MORE important now, in the time of a global pandemic with a new vaccine on the horizon. The way forward is clear: make your appointment with us conveniently online right here – or call our friendly reception team on 82953200.
Take the next steps!
Photo by Miguel u00c1. Padriu00f1u00e1n on Pexels.com
Photo by Miguel u00c1. Padriu00f1u00e1n on Pexels.com
If you’re employed, get a side hustle and get into business. If you’ve already got a business, get a network. Want to get started? Find your tribe here!
Photo by Miguel u00c1. Padriu00f1u00e1n on Pexels.com
If you are a great GP or a great Allied Health Professional, and you want to serve your clients or patients to the best of your ability, without worrying about all the non clinical things that get in your way, lets talk. Call Mrs Hayley Roberts on 8295 3200 and have a coffee and chat with us as to how PartridgeGP can help you to help others.
Newborn oral health simplified for tired mums and dads.
When my twins were born, I had 3 babies under the age of 2. To suggest that I was tired was a massive understatement. I remember one night of severe sleep deprivation when I honestly thought my son’s penis had fallen off after mixing up my boy/girl twins in the middle of yet another sleepless night nappy change. New mums and dads experience a type of exhaustion that can only be truly understood by fellow parents.
With everything that is on your mind as a new parent, it’s easy to become overwhelmed with the information given to you. If you’re anything like me, if it’s overwhelming to do something, I do nothing. So, today I hope to simplify a few things for you about caring for your new babies mouth and teeth when they emerge. Ok, ready for a quick lesson? Good, me too! Lets go!
Dummy or no dummy?
Ok, this one really annoys me as both a mum and an Oral Health Therapist. There seems to be this frequently recurring negative narrative about caregivers who give their babies dummies. For the record, all of my kids had dummies. My eldest boy, Alex, had his til he was 4 and the twins til they were 3 (I weaned them all at the same time). Babies are meant to suck. They suck to soothe, increase feeding strength, make them happy and to comfort them. In fact, suckling is one of the 5 womb sensations that trigger the baby’s innate calming reflex. Dummy use has even been shown to decrease the rate of SIDS, although the exact reason is still unknown. They can either suck on a breast, a bottle, a dummy or a thumb.
As much as I loved breastfeeding, I had no desire to sit for hours on end while the babies used my sore cracked, bleeding nipples as a pacifier. Bottles and formula can be expensive and can cause bottle decay in babies, so that’s not ideal either. Thumbs are attached to the baby (funnily enough), so trying to remove a thumb from a child to wean them is literally impossible. So that leaves us with a dummy. You can read more about what kind of dummy is best. But apart from that, if a dummy soothes your baby and lets you get a few extra hours sleep, let them have a dummy. Trust me, it’s not the end of the world, but sleep deprivation can be.
But a last word on dummies; please please please do not suck the dummy yourself or anyone else. Bacteria from your mouth can be transferred to the baby and it can have disastrous outcomes including decay, thrush, cold sores and even the common cold which you may not know you have. Carry spare clean dummies with you or rinse under cold running water if it gets dropped or soiled.
When to start brushing baby’s teeth?
Well, both of my boys were born with their lower front teeth present, called “natal teeth” so I started gently brushing their little teeth right from day 1, but what is best practice for others? Start when the baby is a few days old, good routines are established early. Cover your finger with a clean damp washcloth and gently wipe the inside of the baby’s mouth and gums. When baby teeth start to appear, around 6 months of age, start cleaning them using a very soft childrens toothbrush without any toothpaste. Bacteria starts to accumulate in babies’ mouths very soon after birth, so it’s important to start the daily habit of removing the oral bacteria early on. The bacteria that causes decay is transferred to the baby from caregivers, so regular dental check ups and daily good oral hygiene practices are a must for all caregivers too.
Your child’s first dental appointment should be before their first birthday.
This also establishes good rapport and familiarity to the dental setting for the child so that future dental appointments are carried out easily without fear. You can read more about my recommendations for a child’s first dental appointment. I’ll talk more about caring for children’s teeth next week, let’s stick with newborns this week. If you are concerned about your newborns gums, mouth or teeth, make an appointment with your Oral Health Therapist for some excellent knowledge and advice.
Points to remember
If your baby settles better suckling, a dummy is perfectly acceptable to use
Do not suck on the babies dummy yourself, rinse it clean under cold water
Start cleaning babies mouth early on with a clean damp cloth
Use a soft toothbrush once teeth start to appear
No toothpaste until the age of 2, then only use a children’s toothpaste with reduced fluoride
Adult strength toothpaste from age 6
First dental check before babies first birthday
Most of all do what works for you. Your Oral Health Therapist should be supportive, flexible and understanding of everyone’s needs. They are there to help you, not judge.
We pride ourselves on great communication and we’re ready to share our professional skills and knowledge with you. This is only MORE important now, in the time of a global pandemic with a new vaccine on the horizon. The way forward is clear: make your appointment with us conveniently online right here – or call our friendly reception team on 82953200.
Better, for you.
Want more?
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Photo by Miguel u00c1. Padriu00f1u00e1n on Pexels.com
If you’re employed, get a side hustle and get into business. If you’ve already got a business, get a network. Want to get started? Find your tribe here!
Photo by Miguel u00c1. Padriu00f1u00e1n on Pexels.com
If you are a great GP or a great Allied Health Professional, and you want to serve your clients or patients to the best of your ability, without worrying about all the non clinical things that get in your way, lets talk. Call Mrs Hayley Roberts on 8295 3200 and have a coffee and chat with us as to how PartridgeGP can help you to help others.
Many of you will be concerned about COVID19 mutant strains and many of you will be concerned about the vaccines available. Let’s reclaim copium and hopium and give some more reassuring information.
Don’t panic: New COVID strains are not ‘escape mutants’ and vaccines should still work. The variants have shut down nations and led to surges of new cases and deaths – but experts say current vaccines should still protect against the mutations. New COVID variants are increasing, but experts say there is no need to panic yet.Both the Brazilian and South African variants have a change that can reduce antibody binding, potentially reducing the efficacy of vaccines, as well as making a reinfection more likely. This polymorphism – e484k – is not present in the UK variant. The Brazilian variant has triggered a disastrous new tide of infection in the city of Manaus in the Amazon, where fully 75% of the population contracted the virus last year. This, experts fear, could point to a partial ‘immune escape’ – or suggest people who got milder cases in the first wave are faring worse with this new variant.
If they prove necessary, seasonal COVID vaccines could be available much faster than this first generation of vaccines.
In the second phase of vaccine rollout, with the Oxford/Astra Zeneca vaccine (a more traditional vaccine), Australian General Practice and PartridgeGP will do our bit to get those who want to be vaccinated protected ASAP, at scale, as safely as we can. Our plans are well advanced. It is super important to us to play our part – and important that people are informed, and not coerced. We can see that countries and areas overseas – the UK, Europe, the US – are being more affected by COVID, and they are having to take more risks than us. We will learn from them. We will have their data and experiences to look upon before we take the plunge ourselves.
But are they safe, I hear you ask? Well, I’ve also written about risk, here, and here, but today, as an introduction, I have a very very smart person describe a story where Australia’s contribution to world vaccination DID NOT work. It wasn’t up to scratch, and so they canned it. That should give us no little confidence in what has been approved. Enough of me – handing over to the super smart Ms Maddie Massy-Westropp.
A deal for the Australian government to purchase more than 50 million doses of a promising new COVID-19 vaccine, developed by the University of Queensland (UQ) and global biotechnology company CSL limited, has been abruptly terminated. In a statement to the Australian Stock Exchange on December 11, UQ and CSL announced that the vaccine would not progress to Phase 2/3 clinical trials.
The UQ-CSL vaccine contains the Spike protein, a molecule located on the coronavirus surface. The Spike protein enables the virus to enter human and other animal host cells, where it replicates itself. When the vaccine is administered to a person, the immune system recognises the Spike protein and generates neutralising antibodies which can bind to it. If that person is exposed to COVID-19 in the future, those same antibodies can attack the Spike protein on the coronavirus surface, preventing the virus from entering host cells and replicating. The Spike protein was kept in a stable form in the vaccine using the novel, patented molecular clamp technology which UQ has been developing for the past 10 years.
However, the trial participants also had an immune response against the gp41 component of the vaccine. This has no health consequences at all, but widespread rollout of the vaccine could complicate the HIV screening process. Due to the production of gp41 antibodies, many people who have received the vaccine could falsely test positive on the standard HIV test. Community confidence in vaccine development is critical, with a new survey by The Australian National University showing that 41% of Australian adults would be hesitant about receiving a COVID-19 vaccine.
A tough decision was made
On December 11, UQ and CSL together announced that clinical trials for their COVID-19 vaccine have been abandoned. Read the whole article here. The famous advert below rings true, and that why I have confidence in Australia’a COVID vaccination program.
PartridgeGP works with you to help you make your best health decisions, and we won’t back away from being your companion, guide, advisor, and sounding board through your health journey. We pride ourselves on great communication and we’re ready to share our professional skills and knowledge with you. This is only MORE important now, in the time of a global pandemic with a new vaccine on the horizon. The way forward is clear: make your appointment with us conveniently online right here – or call our friendly reception team on 82953200.
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If you are a great GP or a great Allied Health Professional, and you want to serve your clients or patients to the best of your ability, without worrying about all the non clinical things that get in your way, lets talk. Call Mrs Hayley Roberts on 8295 3200 and have a coffee and chat with us as to how PartridgeGP can help you to help others.
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