According to the Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care, there are 57 confirmed and probable Monkeypox cases in the country. All of these cases are already reported to the National Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System (NNDSS) by states and territories. The locations where these cases were diagnosed are specified below:
31 cases in New South Wales
22 in Victoria
2 in the Australian Capital Territory
1 in Queensland
1 in South Australia
The first Monkeypox case in the country was reported in May of this year and on June 1, 2022, it was reported that Monkeypox is now a nationally notifiable disease. However, The Government is still deciding whether to put it on the list of viruses permanently.
On July 26, 222, Chief Medical Officer Professor Paul Kelly, under the decision of the Emergency Response Plan for Communicable Disease Incidents of National Significance together with the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee, followed the declaration of the World Health Organization (WHO) regarding monkeypox to be a public health emergency of international concern.
Moderna Vaccine Available for Children
The Federal Government has decided to make the Moderna vaccine available to young children starting September 5, and the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) has welcomed this supportive decision.
High-risk children of ages 6 months under 5 years old are eligible to get the vaccine. These children include those immunocompromised, children with disabilities, and children with multiple health conditions that can increase the risk of being infected with Covid-19.
According to RACGP President Adj. Professor Karen Price, this decision is very promising for Australian families and general practice as it can reduce the severity of virus spread and hospitalisations.
In no time, clinics that offer children vaccination can be identified at Vaccine Clinic Finder. However, Professor Karen Price asks for some patience as this news would require additional work for the GPs and not all can be accommodated as soon as possible.
Fighting Covid-19 Complacency
As stated by Professor Karen Price, the war with the pandemic is far from over, most especially because of the increasing number of Covid-19 cases. In the last 24 hours, around 26,000 new cases were reported.
Vaccines and boosters are helpful but transmission can still occur anytime. Fully-vaccinated individuals and those with booster shots can experience minimal effects from the Covid-19 virus. However, they can still transmit the virus easily, especially to the elderly, immunocompromised individuals, and those with underlying health conditions.
In South Australia, using masks indoors and avoiding gatherings are highly recommended to limit the transmission of the virus. A work-from-home setting is also highly encouraged.
In Tasmania and Victoria, practical steps can be done to prevent the spread of the virus. According to RACGP Tasmania Chair Dr. Tim Jackson and RACGP Victoria Chair Dr. Anita Munoz, getting tested right away when you become sick is one of the best ways to prevent Covid-19 transmission.
As Monkeypox cases increase and so does Covid-19, the general practice workforce needs additional support. The role of GPs is vital not just in helping patients manage their symptoms but also in the prevention of these viruses. If you are looking for permanent or locum job opportunities, Medical Recruitment can help you.
Since 1986, Medical Recruitment has been specialising in GP recruitment, thus, consultants from the company have expert knowledge in the space. If you’re looking for an exciting opportunity to work as a permanent or locum GP job or even for a GP role after hours, then look no further - get in touch with our Recruitment Consultants now.
