Left arm or right? Why it matters where you get your vaccine
Using high-definition biological imaging, Phan's team discovered macrophages in lymph nodes near the site of the initial vaccination were 'primed' to trigger a more effective and rapid antibody response than those found elsewhere in the body.
The results of the study contradict research published last year which suggested alternating arms may produce a more powerful immune response. Phan said that study showed antibody level peaked earlier when boosting on the same side – consistent with their own findings.
'When you actually look at it, it also shows very similar results to what we [found],' he said.
'A really good opportunity'
While the theory showed promise in mice, COVID-19 gave researchers at the Kirby Institute an opportunity to observe the effectiveness of the Pfizer vaccine in 30 volunteers who had never contracted the virus.
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'This kind of study is tricky in adults because most people have already been vaccinated or had some sort of infection,' said the Kirby Institute's Dr Mee Ling Munier. 'The rollout of the COVID vaccines was a really good opportunity.'
Those who received both doses in the same arm produced COVID antibodies within the first week after the second dose – significantly faster than when given in alternating arms. The antibodies were also more effective against the Delta and Omicron variants.
Although the gap narrowed within a month, the early boost can provide a crucial head start on rapidly mutating viruses such as COVID.
'During a pandemic, those first weeks of protection could make an enormous difference,' Munier said.
Munier and Phan said they would use the findings to investigate improved vaccines for viruses such as hepatitis and HIV, which are not guaranteed to produce antibodies in patients.
'If we can work out what makes these macrophages switch on … then we may also be able to come up with a strategy to make more effective vaccines,' said Phan.
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The Advertiser
2 days ago
- The Advertiser
How COVID, flu, RSV are tracking this winter - and how to protect yourself
Winter is here, and with it come higher rates of respiratory illnesses. If you've been struck down recently with a sore throat, runny nose and a cough, or perhaps even a fever, you're not alone. Last week, non-urgent surgeries were paused in several Queensland hospitals due to a surge of influenza and COVID cases filling up hospital beds. Meanwhile, more than 200 aged care facilities around Australia are reportedly facing COVID outbreaks. So, just how bad are respiratory infections this year, and which viruses are causing the biggest problems? Until May, COVID case numbers were about half last year's level, but June's 32,348 notifications are closing the gap (compared with 45,634 in June 2024). That said, we know far fewer people test now than they did earlier in the pandemic, so these numbers are likely to be an underestimate. According to the latest Australian Respiratory Surveillance Report, Australia now appears to be emerging from a winter wave of COVID cases driven largely by the NB.1.8.1 subvariant, known as "Nimbus". Besides classic cold-like symptoms, this Omicron offshoot can reportedly cause particularly painful sore throats as well as gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea and diarrhoea. While some people who catch COVID have no symptoms or just mild ones, for many people the virus can be serious. Older adults and those with chronic health issues remain at greatest risk of experiencing severe illness and dying from COVID. Some 138 aged care residents have died from COVID since the beginning of June. The COVID booster currently available is based on the JN.1 subvariant. Nimbus is a direct descendant of JN.1 - as is another subvariant in circulation, XFG or "Stratus" - which means the vaccine should remain effective against current variants. Free boosters are available to most people annually, while those aged 75 and older are advised to get one every six months. Vaccination, as well as early treatment with antivirals, lowers the risk of severe illness and long COVID. People aged 70 and older, as well as younger people with certain risk factors, are eligible for antivirals if they test positive. The 2025 flu season has been unusually severe. From January to May, total case numbers were 30% higher than last year, increasing pressure on health systems. More recent case numbers seem to be trending lower than 2024, however we don't appear to have reached the peak yet. Flu symptoms are generally more severe than the common cold and may include high fever, chills, muscle aches, fatigue, sore throat and a runny or blocked nose. Most people recover in under a week, but the flu can be more severe (and even fatal) in groups including older people, young children and pregnant women. An annual vaccination is available for free to children aged 6 months to 4 years, pregnant women, those aged 65+, and other higher-risk groups. Queensland and Western Australia provide a free flu vaccine for all people aged 6 months and older, but in other states and territories, people not eligible for a free vaccine can pay (usually A$30 or less) to receive one. The third significant respiratory virus, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), only became a notifiable disease in 2021 (before this doctors didn't need to record infections, meaning data is sparse). Last year saw Australia's highest case numbers since RSV reporting began. By May, cases in 2025 were lower than 2024, but by June, they had caught up: 27,243 cases this June versus 26,596 in June 2024. However it looks as though we may have just passed the peak. RSV's symptoms are usually mild and cold-like, but it can cause serious illness such as bronchiolitis and pneumonia. Infants, older people, and people with chronic health conditions are among those at highest risk. In young children, RSV is a leading cause of hospitalisation. A free vaccine is now available for pregnant women, protecting infants for up to six months. A monoclonal antibody (different to a vaccine but also given as an injection) is also available for at-risk children up to age two, especially if their mothers didn't receive the RSV vaccine during pregnancy. For older adults, two RSV vaccines (Arexvy and Abrysvo) are available, with a single dose recommended for everyone aged 75+, those over 60 at higher risk due to medical conditions, and all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 60+. Unfortunately, these are not currently subsidised and cost about $300. Protection lasts at least three years. While viruses including COVID, RSV and influenza dominate headlines, we often overlook one of the most widespread - the common cold. The common cold can be caused by more than 200 different viruses - mainly rhinoviruses but also some coronaviruses, adenoviruses and enteroviruses. Typical symptoms include a runny or blocked nose, sore throat, coughing, sneezing, headache, tiredness and sometimes a mild fever. Children get about 6-8 colds per year while adults average 2-4, and symptoms usually resolve in a week. Most recover with rest, fluids, and possibly over-the-counter medications. Because so many different viruses cause the common cold, and because these constantly mutate, developing a vaccine has been extremely challenging. Researchers continue to explore solutions, but a universal cold vaccine remains elusive. The precautions we learned during the COVID pandemic remain valid. These are all airborne viruses which can be spread by coughing, sneezing and touching contaminated surfaces. Practise good hygiene, teach children proper cough etiquette, wear a high-quality mask if you're at high risk, and stay home to rest if unwell. You can now buy rapid antigen tests (called panel tests) that test for influenza (A or B), COVID and RSV. So, if you're unwell with a respiratory infection, consider testing yourself at home. While many winter lurgies can be trivial, this is not always the case. We can all do our bit to reduce the impact. Winter is here, and with it come higher rates of respiratory illnesses. If you've been struck down recently with a sore throat, runny nose and a cough, or perhaps even a fever, you're not alone. Last week, non-urgent surgeries were paused in several Queensland hospitals due to a surge of influenza and COVID cases filling up hospital beds. Meanwhile, more than 200 aged care facilities around Australia are reportedly facing COVID outbreaks. So, just how bad are respiratory infections this year, and which viruses are causing the biggest problems? Until May, COVID case numbers were about half last year's level, but June's 32,348 notifications are closing the gap (compared with 45,634 in June 2024). That said, we know far fewer people test now than they did earlier in the pandemic, so these numbers are likely to be an underestimate. According to the latest Australian Respiratory Surveillance Report, Australia now appears to be emerging from a winter wave of COVID cases driven largely by the NB.1.8.1 subvariant, known as "Nimbus". Besides classic cold-like symptoms, this Omicron offshoot can reportedly cause particularly painful sore throats as well as gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea and diarrhoea. While some people who catch COVID have no symptoms or just mild ones, for many people the virus can be serious. Older adults and those with chronic health issues remain at greatest risk of experiencing severe illness and dying from COVID. Some 138 aged care residents have died from COVID since the beginning of June. The COVID booster currently available is based on the JN.1 subvariant. Nimbus is a direct descendant of JN.1 - as is another subvariant in circulation, XFG or "Stratus" - which means the vaccine should remain effective against current variants. Free boosters are available to most people annually, while those aged 75 and older are advised to get one every six months. Vaccination, as well as early treatment with antivirals, lowers the risk of severe illness and long COVID. People aged 70 and older, as well as younger people with certain risk factors, are eligible for antivirals if they test positive. The 2025 flu season has been unusually severe. From January to May, total case numbers were 30% higher than last year, increasing pressure on health systems. More recent case numbers seem to be trending lower than 2024, however we don't appear to have reached the peak yet. Flu symptoms are generally more severe than the common cold and may include high fever, chills, muscle aches, fatigue, sore throat and a runny or blocked nose. Most people recover in under a week, but the flu can be more severe (and even fatal) in groups including older people, young children and pregnant women. An annual vaccination is available for free to children aged 6 months to 4 years, pregnant women, those aged 65+, and other higher-risk groups. Queensland and Western Australia provide a free flu vaccine for all people aged 6 months and older, but in other states and territories, people not eligible for a free vaccine can pay (usually A$30 or less) to receive one. The third significant respiratory virus, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), only became a notifiable disease in 2021 (before this doctors didn't need to record infections, meaning data is sparse). Last year saw Australia's highest case numbers since RSV reporting began. By May, cases in 2025 were lower than 2024, but by June, they had caught up: 27,243 cases this June versus 26,596 in June 2024. However it looks as though we may have just passed the peak. RSV's symptoms are usually mild and cold-like, but it can cause serious illness such as bronchiolitis and pneumonia. Infants, older people, and people with chronic health conditions are among those at highest risk. In young children, RSV is a leading cause of hospitalisation. A free vaccine is now available for pregnant women, protecting infants for up to six months. A monoclonal antibody (different to a vaccine but also given as an injection) is also available for at-risk children up to age two, especially if their mothers didn't receive the RSV vaccine during pregnancy. For older adults, two RSV vaccines (Arexvy and Abrysvo) are available, with a single dose recommended for everyone aged 75+, those over 60 at higher risk due to medical conditions, and all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 60+. Unfortunately, these are not currently subsidised and cost about $300. Protection lasts at least three years. While viruses including COVID, RSV and influenza dominate headlines, we often overlook one of the most widespread - the common cold. The common cold can be caused by more than 200 different viruses - mainly rhinoviruses but also some coronaviruses, adenoviruses and enteroviruses. Typical symptoms include a runny or blocked nose, sore throat, coughing, sneezing, headache, tiredness and sometimes a mild fever. Children get about 6-8 colds per year while adults average 2-4, and symptoms usually resolve in a week. Most recover with rest, fluids, and possibly over-the-counter medications. Because so many different viruses cause the common cold, and because these constantly mutate, developing a vaccine has been extremely challenging. Researchers continue to explore solutions, but a universal cold vaccine remains elusive. The precautions we learned during the COVID pandemic remain valid. These are all airborne viruses which can be spread by coughing, sneezing and touching contaminated surfaces. Practise good hygiene, teach children proper cough etiquette, wear a high-quality mask if you're at high risk, and stay home to rest if unwell. You can now buy rapid antigen tests (called panel tests) that test for influenza (A or B), COVID and RSV. So, if you're unwell with a respiratory infection, consider testing yourself at home. While many winter lurgies can be trivial, this is not always the case. We can all do our bit to reduce the impact. Winter is here, and with it come higher rates of respiratory illnesses. If you've been struck down recently with a sore throat, runny nose and a cough, or perhaps even a fever, you're not alone. Last week, non-urgent surgeries were paused in several Queensland hospitals due to a surge of influenza and COVID cases filling up hospital beds. Meanwhile, more than 200 aged care facilities around Australia are reportedly facing COVID outbreaks. So, just how bad are respiratory infections this year, and which viruses are causing the biggest problems? Until May, COVID case numbers were about half last year's level, but June's 32,348 notifications are closing the gap (compared with 45,634 in June 2024). That said, we know far fewer people test now than they did earlier in the pandemic, so these numbers are likely to be an underestimate. According to the latest Australian Respiratory Surveillance Report, Australia now appears to be emerging from a winter wave of COVID cases driven largely by the NB.1.8.1 subvariant, known as "Nimbus". Besides classic cold-like symptoms, this Omicron offshoot can reportedly cause particularly painful sore throats as well as gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea and diarrhoea. While some people who catch COVID have no symptoms or just mild ones, for many people the virus can be serious. Older adults and those with chronic health issues remain at greatest risk of experiencing severe illness and dying from COVID. Some 138 aged care residents have died from COVID since the beginning of June. The COVID booster currently available is based on the JN.1 subvariant. Nimbus is a direct descendant of JN.1 - as is another subvariant in circulation, XFG or "Stratus" - which means the vaccine should remain effective against current variants. Free boosters are available to most people annually, while those aged 75 and older are advised to get one every six months. Vaccination, as well as early treatment with antivirals, lowers the risk of severe illness and long COVID. People aged 70 and older, as well as younger people with certain risk factors, are eligible for antivirals if they test positive. The 2025 flu season has been unusually severe. From January to May, total case numbers were 30% higher than last year, increasing pressure on health systems. More recent case numbers seem to be trending lower than 2024, however we don't appear to have reached the peak yet. Flu symptoms are generally more severe than the common cold and may include high fever, chills, muscle aches, fatigue, sore throat and a runny or blocked nose. Most people recover in under a week, but the flu can be more severe (and even fatal) in groups including older people, young children and pregnant women. An annual vaccination is available for free to children aged 6 months to 4 years, pregnant women, those aged 65+, and other higher-risk groups. Queensland and Western Australia provide a free flu vaccine for all people aged 6 months and older, but in other states and territories, people not eligible for a free vaccine can pay (usually A$30 or less) to receive one. The third significant respiratory virus, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), only became a notifiable disease in 2021 (before this doctors didn't need to record infections, meaning data is sparse). Last year saw Australia's highest case numbers since RSV reporting began. By May, cases in 2025 were lower than 2024, but by June, they had caught up: 27,243 cases this June versus 26,596 in June 2024. However it looks as though we may have just passed the peak. RSV's symptoms are usually mild and cold-like, but it can cause serious illness such as bronchiolitis and pneumonia. Infants, older people, and people with chronic health conditions are among those at highest risk. In young children, RSV is a leading cause of hospitalisation. A free vaccine is now available for pregnant women, protecting infants for up to six months. A monoclonal antibody (different to a vaccine but also given as an injection) is also available for at-risk children up to age two, especially if their mothers didn't receive the RSV vaccine during pregnancy. For older adults, two RSV vaccines (Arexvy and Abrysvo) are available, with a single dose recommended for everyone aged 75+, those over 60 at higher risk due to medical conditions, and all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 60+. Unfortunately, these are not currently subsidised and cost about $300. Protection lasts at least three years. While viruses including COVID, RSV and influenza dominate headlines, we often overlook one of the most widespread - the common cold. The common cold can be caused by more than 200 different viruses - mainly rhinoviruses but also some coronaviruses, adenoviruses and enteroviruses. Typical symptoms include a runny or blocked nose, sore throat, coughing, sneezing, headache, tiredness and sometimes a mild fever. Children get about 6-8 colds per year while adults average 2-4, and symptoms usually resolve in a week. Most recover with rest, fluids, and possibly over-the-counter medications. Because so many different viruses cause the common cold, and because these constantly mutate, developing a vaccine has been extremely challenging. Researchers continue to explore solutions, but a universal cold vaccine remains elusive. The precautions we learned during the COVID pandemic remain valid. These are all airborne viruses which can be spread by coughing, sneezing and touching contaminated surfaces. Practise good hygiene, teach children proper cough etiquette, wear a high-quality mask if you're at high risk, and stay home to rest if unwell. You can now buy rapid antigen tests (called panel tests) that test for influenza (A or B), COVID and RSV. So, if you're unwell with a respiratory infection, consider testing yourself at home. While many winter lurgies can be trivial, this is not always the case. We can all do our bit to reduce the impact. Winter is here, and with it come higher rates of respiratory illnesses. If you've been struck down recently with a sore throat, runny nose and a cough, or perhaps even a fever, you're not alone. Last week, non-urgent surgeries were paused in several Queensland hospitals due to a surge of influenza and COVID cases filling up hospital beds. Meanwhile, more than 200 aged care facilities around Australia are reportedly facing COVID outbreaks. So, just how bad are respiratory infections this year, and which viruses are causing the biggest problems? Until May, COVID case numbers were about half last year's level, but June's 32,348 notifications are closing the gap (compared with 45,634 in June 2024). That said, we know far fewer people test now than they did earlier in the pandemic, so these numbers are likely to be an underestimate. According to the latest Australian Respiratory Surveillance Report, Australia now appears to be emerging from a winter wave of COVID cases driven largely by the NB.1.8.1 subvariant, known as "Nimbus". Besides classic cold-like symptoms, this Omicron offshoot can reportedly cause particularly painful sore throats as well as gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea and diarrhoea. While some people who catch COVID have no symptoms or just mild ones, for many people the virus can be serious. Older adults and those with chronic health issues remain at greatest risk of experiencing severe illness and dying from COVID. Some 138 aged care residents have died from COVID since the beginning of June. The COVID booster currently available is based on the JN.1 subvariant. Nimbus is a direct descendant of JN.1 - as is another subvariant in circulation, XFG or "Stratus" - which means the vaccine should remain effective against current variants. Free boosters are available to most people annually, while those aged 75 and older are advised to get one every six months. Vaccination, as well as early treatment with antivirals, lowers the risk of severe illness and long COVID. People aged 70 and older, as well as younger people with certain risk factors, are eligible for antivirals if they test positive. The 2025 flu season has been unusually severe. From January to May, total case numbers were 30% higher than last year, increasing pressure on health systems. More recent case numbers seem to be trending lower than 2024, however we don't appear to have reached the peak yet. Flu symptoms are generally more severe than the common cold and may include high fever, chills, muscle aches, fatigue, sore throat and a runny or blocked nose. Most people recover in under a week, but the flu can be more severe (and even fatal) in groups including older people, young children and pregnant women. An annual vaccination is available for free to children aged 6 months to 4 years, pregnant women, those aged 65+, and other higher-risk groups. Queensland and Western Australia provide a free flu vaccine for all people aged 6 months and older, but in other states and territories, people not eligible for a free vaccine can pay (usually A$30 or less) to receive one. The third significant respiratory virus, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), only became a notifiable disease in 2021 (before this doctors didn't need to record infections, meaning data is sparse). Last year saw Australia's highest case numbers since RSV reporting began. By May, cases in 2025 were lower than 2024, but by June, they had caught up: 27,243 cases this June versus 26,596 in June 2024. However it looks as though we may have just passed the peak. RSV's symptoms are usually mild and cold-like, but it can cause serious illness such as bronchiolitis and pneumonia. Infants, older people, and people with chronic health conditions are among those at highest risk. In young children, RSV is a leading cause of hospitalisation. A free vaccine is now available for pregnant women, protecting infants for up to six months. A monoclonal antibody (different to a vaccine but also given as an injection) is also available for at-risk children up to age two, especially if their mothers didn't receive the RSV vaccine during pregnancy. For older adults, two RSV vaccines (Arexvy and Abrysvo) are available, with a single dose recommended for everyone aged 75+, those over 60 at higher risk due to medical conditions, and all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 60+. Unfortunately, these are not currently subsidised and cost about $300. Protection lasts at least three years. While viruses including COVID, RSV and influenza dominate headlines, we often overlook one of the most widespread - the common cold. The common cold can be caused by more than 200 different viruses - mainly rhinoviruses but also some coronaviruses, adenoviruses and enteroviruses. Typical symptoms include a runny or blocked nose, sore throat, coughing, sneezing, headache, tiredness and sometimes a mild fever. Children get about 6-8 colds per year while adults average 2-4, and symptoms usually resolve in a week. Most recover with rest, fluids, and possibly over-the-counter medications. Because so many different viruses cause the common cold, and because these constantly mutate, developing a vaccine has been extremely challenging. Researchers continue to explore solutions, but a universal cold vaccine remains elusive. The precautions we learned during the COVID pandemic remain valid. These are all airborne viruses which can be spread by coughing, sneezing and touching contaminated surfaces. Practise good hygiene, teach children proper cough etiquette, wear a high-quality mask if you're at high risk, and stay home to rest if unwell. You can now buy rapid antigen tests (called panel tests) that test for influenza (A or B), COVID and RSV. So, if you're unwell with a respiratory infection, consider testing yourself at home. While many winter lurgies can be trivial, this is not always the case. We can all do our bit to reduce the impact.
ABC News
2 days ago
- ABC News
Hundreds of aged care facilities facing COVID-19 outbreaks amid renewed vaccination calls
Dozens of aged care residents are dying of COVID each week as facilities grapple with more than 240 outbreaks nationwide. Outbreak numbers have been steadily rising since late May, according to federal data. It reached a peak of more than 300 outbreaks, 1,752 affected residents and 34 deaths in the final week of June, according to health officials. However, a spokesperson for the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing said cases were now in decline. "[The] peak outbreak and case numbers recorded this year is lower than in previous years," they told the ABC. "On 11 April 2025, the Chief Medical Officer and the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commissioner wrote to all aged care provider Board Chairs regarding expectations around staff and resident vaccinations and preventing and managing outbreaks. "The [department] contacted all providers of aged care homes prior to the winter season to remind them of the current vaccination recommendations and to seek assurance they have plans to vaccinate their residence." Lagging vaccination rates, community complacency and "damaging" misinformation were all contributing to climbing cases, experts told the ABC. The number of outbreaks throughout Australian aged care facilities reached a low of 57 active outbreaks nationwide in early April. Numbers then began to steadily increase with each passing week before reaching their June high point. As of July 11, there were 241 active outbreaks, with 1,159 residents and 438 staff testing positive for the virus. There have been 138 resident deaths since the beginning of June. Aged Care chair at the Royal Australian College of GPs (RACGP), Anthony Marinucci, said there were always "seasonal waves". "That's normally hand in hand with new variants of the disease," he said. "There is certainly lower booster uptake and waning community [vaccination rates] … There's also been a relaxation of precautions and higher exposure in aged care facilities. "During the actual COVID period, aged care restrictions were super, super tight, but now there is much higher community visitation [to] aged care. "The relaxing of precautions on one hand is very good for the mental health of people living in aged care, but it certainly does increase their potential to viral illnesses." He added it was "the very nature of aged care" which made it more prone to outbreaks. "It's a shared space, which often makes containment very difficult. So the facilities themselves can lead to higher outbreaks." In dozens of facilities, less than 10 per cent of residents had received a dose of a COVID-19 vaccine in the last six months, according to data from the Australian Immunisation Register. The department spokesperson told the ABC it was working with facilities to boost vaccination numbers nationally. "Vaccination remains the most important measure to protect against severe disease … particularly in high-risk settings such as residential aged care," they said. "To further ensure boosters are being prioritised … the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission continues to make unannounced site visits across the country with a focus on providers with the lowest vaccination rates." Vaccinating aged care residents came with its own set of hurdles, experts told the ABC. Cognitive decline meant that, for some residents, a family member needed to consent to the vaccination first. University of New South Wales professor of Global Biosecurity Raina MacIntyre said it was concerning to see "highest risk" settings, such as aged care, lagging in vaccine booster rates. "And older people in aged care have the same right. "Aged care houses a lot of people with dementia [and] many facilities are almost 100 per cent dementia residents. "So you have to get next of kin consent for vaccination. Therefore, we need material for education of family and loved ones who are making decisions for their relatives." RACGP's president, Michael Wright, said health officials have known "since the beginning of the pandemic" that older patients were more at risk. "It's true there are often additional challenges to vaccinating in aged care, but it's literally vital to keep residents' immunity up, as that fades over time," Dr Wright said. He added the college was calling on operators to boost vaccination "as a matter of priority". "Where aged care GPs and other health workers have identified barriers, aged care operators should do everything possible ot increase vaccination coverage among these vulnerable patients. "That goes for other age groups, too, though. COVID can still cause serious harm, including chronic conditions like long COVID. Many Australians now think of COVID-19 as "just a flu", according to Professor MacIntyre. "It's not a cold, it's a really serious virus," she said. "There's an increased risk of cognitive damage [and] dementia as well with COVID. Up to a year, maybe even up to three years after one infection, your risk of heart attacks and strokes doubles, at least. "So, it causes these terrible complications, including long COVID, which is quite a debilitating condition. "It is a serious infection, and it's worth preventing it." Dr Marinucci said it was difficult to balance the psychological and physical risks when it came to protecting aged care residents. "I think that the assumption is … 'We've been through this before and we were okay, and we'll get through it again,'" he said. "But complacency can be very dangerous. "All respiratory illnesses can cause significant morbidity and mortality in a broader population. Aged care residents are a vulnerable population, there's no doubt about that. "It's not just [the] reduced immunisation, but overall that increased community visitation. "I've heard anecdotally where people have sort of said, 'Oh, I've got a sniffle, but I'll go see Mum and Dad,' whereas a few years ago, they absolutely … would have stayed away. "But on the flip side of that, I've also seen the psychological impact of lockdowns in aged care, and they were very, very significant. "So I think there has to be a precautionary balance." COVID-19 vaccines are free for all Australians, and the influenza vaccine is free for everyone aged over 65.
Perth Now
2 days ago
- Perth Now
Beloved WA doctor retires after 45 years
From hanging out of helicopters in African war zones to performing general practice in Bunbury, Frederik Pretorius has had a life full of twists and turns. Arriving in Australia 45 years ago, Dr Pretorius left the unrest of apartheid South Africa with his family, looking for a better life. Being a passionate diver, Australia was a natural choice for him and he arrived in Brisbane with two toddlers, a few suitcases of clothes and $400 in travellers' cheques. After staying in Cairns for one year and then another year at Pinjarra, Dr Pretorius and his family eventually decided to settle in Bunbury. 'It was close enough to Perth, but close enough to the southern places, not too big, like Perth, but not too small, like a country town where everybody knows what's in your shopping basket at the supermarket,' he said. Dr Fred Pretorius with his best friend Mapula. Credit: Yousuf Shameel Soon after settling in Bunbury, he set up a clinic in the Plaza Shopping Centre with a chemist shop close by. Dr Pretorius said his most proud moment he would pick of his career would be when he was able to detect 50 melanomas in their early stages when he started to do community skin checks after losing a dear friend and partner Dr Rex Chidgzey to melanoma. 'I was already doing quite a lot of skin work, and that reinforced it,' he said. 'His portrait still hangs in our surgery in the skin cancer clinic as a memory to him and passing away from melanoma. 'He was in his 40s, which is very sad. A good doctor and good friend.' While in Bunbury, Dr Pretorius made the headlines, not for his services to the community, but for his diving expeditions. 'I was diving with a buddy a few kilometres from the Ningaloo shoreline and our boat anchor rope got severed by sharp coral whilst we were in the water,' he said. 'The boat took off in a stiff easterly breeze and was eventually found by a passing Greek freighter somewhere between India and Cocos Islands and taken as salvage. 'My buddy and I got separated but both reached the shore in the dark after a very long swim after having to dump our heavy scuba gear and I drove home to Bunbury with an empty boat trailer, wearing diving goggles with prescription lenses as my proper glasses went with the boat.' After selling his GP clinic, Dr Pretorius set out to start the Bunbury Skin Cancer Clinic with Dr Gavin Matten from Donnybrook at Forrest Avenue next to Mainline Plumbing. Soon, they realised they were running out of space, and decided to move into the current skin cancer clinic at South Bunbury. Now, at the age of 75, Dr Pretorius has decided its time for him to consider retirement and wishes to thank his staff, colleagues, friends and most of all, his patients and Bunbury itself. 'Thank you for your friendship, patience, laughter, compassion and trust over the past four and a half decades and for putting up with my choice of music in the operating theatre,' he said. As for a piece of wisdom, he said people should 'appreciate your GPs, because they have to deal with everything and be fairly good at many things.'
