2026 Archives - Illawarra Medical Centre https://illawarramedical.com.au/category/2026/ Providing superior health care to families and local businesses in the Ballajura area for more than 25 years Tue, 24 Mar 2026 04:35:53 +0000 en-AU hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4 New nasal flu vaccine available for kids https://illawarramedical.com.au/new-nasal-flu-vaccine-available-for-kids/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=new-nasal-flu-vaccine-available-for-kids Tue, 24 Mar 2026 04:11:45 +0000 https://illawarramedical.com.au/?p=9326 Getting your kids vaccinated against the flu each year can sometimes be tricky, particularly if you have a child who doesn’t like needles. The good news is that this year, some Australian children will have the option to receive a new, needle-free nasal flu vaccine, thanks to the Therapeutic Goods Administration’s recent registration of FluMist®. […]

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Getting your kids vaccinated against the flu each year can sometimes be tricky, particularly if you have a child who doesn’t like needles.

The good news is that this year, some Australian children will have the option to receive a new, needle-free nasal flu vaccine, thanks to the Therapeutic Goods Administration’s recent registration of FluMist®.

In Western Australia, FluMist® will be available free for children aged from 2 to 11 years, through the National Immunisation Program (NIP). 

In this month’s blog, we take a closer look at this new vaccine and the outlook for this year’s flu season.

What is the flu?

Influenza, or the flu, is a highly contagious viral disease that can often be mistaken for a common cold. However, flu tends to last longer and be more debilitating.

Most people experience symptoms, such as:

  • Fever
  • Headache
  • Sore throat
  • Runny nose
  • Cough
  • Tiredness
  • General aches and pains

Children, however, can experience more uncommon symptoms, including:

  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Diarrhoea

Influenza can cause severe illness or death, particularly among high-risk groups, including children under five, the elderly, pregnant women, and those with serious medical conditions.

Flu Vaccines

The flu vaccine is recommended for every Australian aged 6 months and over.

Those at greatest risk of serious complications from influenza are eligible to receive the vaccine for free, through the Australian Government’s National Immunisation Program (NIP), including:

  • Children aged 6 months to <5 years
  • Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
  • Adults aged 65 years and over
  • Pregnant women
  • Anyone aged 6 months and over who has:
    • heart disease
    • severe asthma (requiring frequent medical consultations or use of multiple medications)
    • chronic lung conditions
    • diseases of the nervous system that affect breathing
    • impaired immunity
    • diabetes
    • kidney disease
    • haemoglobinopathies
    • children aged 6 months to 10 years on long-term aspirin therapy

Vaccination is also strongly recommended for those who:

  • Work in certain jobs and industries (including aged care and health care)
  • Travel to certain countries
  • Are planning a pregnancy

As the strain of flu changes every year, so too does the influenza vaccine. That is why it’s important to get vaccinated each year.

This year, we are seeing a new, fast-moving strain of influenza dubbed “Super-K” circulating earlier than normal, with high case numbers already experienced in a number of areas throughout Australia.

Staying up-to-date with your vaccines is vital, as it helps to reduce the spread of these viruses and protects your family and the wider community, particularly those who are most vulnerable.

Nasal vaccines

This flu season, for the first time ever, WA children aged from 2 to 11 years will be eligible for the Flu Mist® vaccine.

FluMist® is a needle-free influenza vaccine that is administered via a quick nasal spray containing small amounts of weakened influenza viruses. These viruses work by mimicking a natural infection to help build immunity, and the vaccine remains effective even if a child sneezes shortly after administration.

FluMist® offers a safe, child-friendly alternative to traditional injections and is designed to increase vaccination uptake amongst this cohort.

According to the WA Department of Health, only 17 per cent of Western Australian children in this age group are currently vaccinated against influenza.

Given that 2025 saw a large increase in the number influenza cases nationally, and the highest number of influenza-related deaths this century, increased vaccination rates will be crucial to protect children, vulnerable populations, and the wider community from severe illness this year.

Are flu vaccines safe?

Yes. Flu vaccines given in Australia are perfectly safe. You cannot get influenza from having the influenza vaccine, as it is made from the killed virus, not living viruses.

Like any vaccine, it is possible that some people may experience a reaction; however, the risk of the flu vaccine causing serious harm is very low.

In Australia, all vaccines must pass strict safety testing before being approved for use by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA). We also have a national program – AusVaxSafety – that monitors the type and rate of reactions to each year’s new influenza vaccine in young children.

At Illawarra Medical Centre, we utilise the SmartVax system as an additional vaccine safety measure for our patients. SmartVax uses SMS and smartphone technology to actively monitor vaccine safety in real time and feeds into the AusVaxSafety program.

When is the best time to get vaccinated?

As it can take up to two weeks to develop immunity, it is generally recommended to get your flu vaccine in the autumn months of April and May, so that you are protected in time for the peak influenza season, which normally occurs in winter.

Flu vaccines in Australia will be available from April and people are encouraged to get vaccinated sooner rather than later.

Flu Clinics at IMC

Illawarra Medical Centre will run flu vaccination clinics at our practice again this year, as soon as stocks become available, so keep an eye out for details over the coming weeks!

Bookings will be essential for these clinics. Please visit the website or contact us on (08) 9208 6400 for further details or to make a booking.

For more information on this topic, visit:

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]]> Health dangers of vitamin supplements https://illawarramedical.com.au/health-dangers-of-vitamin-supplements/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=health-dangers-of-vitamin-supplements Tue, 24 Feb 2026 06:50:59 +0000 https://illawarramedical.com.au/?p=9261 While many believe that vitamin supplements are a simple way to boost and improve our overall health, there are hidden health dangers to be aware of. Recent cases of vitamin b6 toxicity from supplements sold in Australia are a prime example of this. In this month’s blog, we take a closer look at vitamin supplements […]

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While many believe that vitamin supplements are a simple way to boost and improve our overall health, there are hidden health dangers to be aware of. Recent cases of vitamin b6 toxicity from supplements sold in Australia are a prime example of this.

In this month’s blog, we take a closer look at vitamin supplements and how they may not always deliver the best outcomes for our health.

What are vitamin supplements?

Vitamin, or dietary, supplements are products designed to provide nutrients that may be missing from your normal diet.

They contain concentrated vitamins, minerals or nutrients and normally come in tablet, capsule, powder, or liquid form. Common examples include vitamin C, iron, and calcium tablets, fish oil capsules, turmeric powder, and raspberry leaf tea.

Many vitamin supplements do not require a prescription and can be easily bought over the counter at pharmacies and supermarkets.

Why and when are supplements used?

Most of the vitamins and minerals our bodies require come from eating a normal balanced and varied diet. However, some people may be advised to take a supplement to help counter specific vitamin or mineral deficiencies.

For example, people who:

  • are pregnant or breastfeeding;
  • are diagnosed with malnutrition and aren’t getting enough nutrition from the food they are eating;
  • have a health condition that prevents their body from absorbing the nutrients it needs (for example, people with chronic kidney disease who are on dialysis);
  • are taking a medicine that affects certain dietary nutrients;
  • have a health condition that requires the need for a particular nutrient (e.g. people at risk of osteoporosis may need to take a calcium supplement);
  • have a restricted diets and aren’t getting enough nutrients through food (e.g. vegetarians and vegans); or
  • have a diagnosed nutritional deficiency (e.g. where a blood test shows you have a vitamin D deficiency).

What are the risks of vitamin supplements?

As with any type of medicine, vitamin supplements come with their own risks and dangers. They can have side effects or interact with other medicines, making them dangerous or less effective.

Getting too much of a particular vitamin or mineral can also lead to serious harm. When vitamins are taken as supplements, they are introduced into the body at levels that are higher than what you could obtain through your normal diet.

Some people also mistakenly believe that taking larger amounts of vitamins is better for you. However, taking more than the recommended doses can result in potential health problems. For example:

  • Vitamins A, B6, D, E and K – can be toxic when taken in high doses.
  • Too much vitamin A or E when pregnant – can cause serious harm to your baby.
  • Folate – can hide vitamin B12 deficiencies.
  • High levels of vitamin B6 – has been linked to nerve damage.
  • Doses of vitamin C above one gram – can cause diarrhoea.
  • Large doses of vitamin C – can cause nausea, abdominal cramps, headaches, fatigue, kidney stones, and interfere with your body’s ability to process other nutrients.
  • Excessive amounts of vitamin C – can interfere with medical tests (such as diabetes), giving a false result.
  • High doses of vitamin A – may cause birth defects, as well as central nervous system, liver, bone and skin disorders.
  • High-dose vitamin E – has been linked to higher rates of early death.
  • Zinc, iron, chromium and selenium – can be raised to toxic levels in the body when taken at just 5 times the recommended dietary intake.
  • Large intakes of fluoride (especially in childhood) – may stain or weaken teeth.
  • Very large doses of fish oil – can lead to decreased blood clotting.
  • Iron – can cause gastrointestinal upset, nausea and black bowel actions. Severe toxicity can lead to coma and even death.
  • Curcumin and curcumin longa (turmeric) – may cause liver injury.

Many supplements also contain additional vitamins and minerals that some people may not be aware of, so it’s important to always read the label and ingredients list carefully to know exactly what you are taking and how much of it you are consuming.

A quick look at the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) safety alerts page shows a range of health concerns to be aware of for a number of vitamin and mineral supplement products available in the Australian market.

Vitamin B6 toxicity

One of the more recent cases of serious health harms caused by vitamin toxicity in Australia has been with Vitamin B6 and its link to peripheral neuropathy.

Peripheral neuropathy is caused by damaged to your peripheral nerves – that is, your sensory, motor, and automatic nerves.

Symptoms usually occur in the hands and feet and include:

  • tingling, pins and needles or electric type pains;
  • numbness;
  • areas that feel ‘hot’ or have a burning sensation;
  • cold areas which are difficult to warm up;
  • the sensation of insects crawling on your skin; and
  • muscle weakness, cramps or aching.

After receiving numerous reports of peripheral neuropathy in recent years, which indicated a possible link with products containing vitamin B6, the TGA undertook a review and found that:

  • Peripheral neuropathy can occur at doses of vitamin B6 less than 50 mg.
  • Peripheral neuropathy can occur when people are taking multiple products containing vitamin B6.
  • The risk appears to vary between people – no minimum dose, length of use or underlying risk factors were identified.

In many cases, people reported they weren’t aware they had even consumed vitamin B6, as they were taking a magnesium supplement. Others reported taking multiple products that each contained a low dose of vitamin B6, not realising the potential cumulative effect.

As a result of their review, the TGA has updated regulations, so that:

  • Products containing a daily dose of vitamin B6 above 10 mg now require a warning about peripheral neuropathy.
  • The maximum permitted daily dose of vitamin B6 in individual products has been reduced from 200 mg to 100 mg for adults, with lower daily dose limits for children, depending on their age.
  • From June 2027, customers will require a pharmacist’s supervision to purchase products containing more than 50mg of vitamin B6, and anything with more than 200mg will need a prescription.

How to safely take vitamin supplements

The best option for taking vitamins safely is to seek professional advice from your doctor to determine what, if any, supplements you may require for your particular health circumstances and how these may interact with any existing prescription medicines and medical treatments you are undertaking.

If you do need to take vitamin supplements, make sure you are taking them at the recommended dosage level and assess the potential benefits and risks. It’s also important to examine all ingredients listed on the product, so you can identify the exactly what you are taking, the dose being taken, and the potential for cumulative overdose from repeated ingredients in multiple products.

Vitamin and mineral supplements should only be used as a short-term measure. If you are taking supplements because you feel you may be lacking in certain vitamins and minerals, it may be better to look at changing your diet and lifestyle instead. Your doctor or a dietitian can help advise you on this.

If you do have any side effects or problems after taking dietary supplements, stop taking them immediately, report them to the TGA, and see your doctor.

For more information on this topic, visit:

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]]> Why we need to vaccinate newborns against hepatitis B https://illawarramedical.com.au/why-we-need-to-vaccinate-newborns-against-hepatitis-b/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=why-we-need-to-vaccinate-newborns-against-hepatitis-b Mon, 12 Jan 2026 04:31:06 +0000 https://illawarramedical.com.au/?p=9170 The recent decision in the US regarding routine vaccinations for newborns against the hepatitis B virus has raised concerns and fears of a resurgence of the disease. Here in Australia, hepatitis B vaccinations are given to all babies at birth, as part of the National Immunisation Program Schedule. In this month’s blog, we take a […]

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The recent decision in the US regarding routine vaccinations for newborns against the hepatitis B virus has raised concerns and fears of a resurgence of the disease.

Here in Australia, hepatitis B vaccinations are given to all babies at birth, as part of the National Immunisation Program Schedule.

In this month’s blog, we take a closer look at the disease and why it’s important to continue to vaccinate newborns against the virus.

What is hepatitis B?

Hepatitis B is a viral infection that attacks the liver. It can be acute, only affecting people for a short amount of time, or chronic, with long-term effects that can potentially lead to liver cancer, cirrhosis, and death.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), there are approximately 254 million people currently living with chronic infections, with around 1.2 million new infections detected every year.

While treatment is available to help reduce the progress of liver damage and loss of liver function, people with chronic hepatitis B will still need to be monitored every 6-12 months by their GP for signs and symptoms of liver disease.

It is spread through contact with infected bodily fluids, including blood, saliva, vaginal fluids, and semen. It can also spread through needlestick injury, tattooing and piercing.

The most common forms of transmission, however come via mother to child at birth. Children are also at risk of transmission from household contacts or through contact with other children who are infected, particularly during the first five years of life. As the disease can survive for a week on household surfaces, the disease can pass on through something as simple as sharing the same toothbrush as an infected person.

A child who contracts chronic hepatitis B has an increased risk of developing chronic liver disease and cancer later in life. In fact, a 2018 report from the U.S. Centres for Disease Control and Prevention suggests that 70% to 90% of unvaccinated infants born to infected mothers will become infected themselves, and 90% of those infections will become chronic.

It is for this reason that the World Health Organization recommends that children receive the first dose of the hepatitis B vaccine at birth.

Why do we vaccinate newborns against hepatitis B?

Vaccinating babies at birth remains one of the best ways to keep children protected from this lifelong, deadly disease.

Globally, 117 countries have introduced a dose of hepatitis B vaccine to newborns within the first 24 hours of life.

In Australia, every baby born since 2000 has been eligible to receive a free vaccine at birth, with further doses given at 2, 4 and 6 months of age. Full protection against hepatitis B requires a three-dose vaccine series, given at specific intervals in infancy. Anything short of this can leave children vulnerable to the virus for life.

This vaccination program has been a great success, with newborn vaccination rates remaining steady at between 92%-95% every year and newly acquired infections reducing by two thirds between 2000 and 2019.

From 2014 to 2023, the program also led to a 60% decline in cases for those aged under 20.

In America, it is a similar story, with a 95% reduction in hepatitis B infection rates resulting in less than 1,000 children or adolescents contracting the virus each year. In fact, America’s vaccination program has seen it come within reach of eliminating infections all together. So why have recommendations changed in the US?

Recent changes in the US

A newly appointed committee who advises on immunisation practices in the US recently changed the recommendation on hepatitis B vaccine at birth to apply only to those newborns whose mothers test positive for the virus. For those who test negative, it is now recommended that they consult their health care provider to make individualised decisions on whether or not to administer the vaccine to their newborn.

This change is not based on any new evidence and causes some concern, particularly as we know that delaying the first dose of the vaccine puts children at greater risk of chronic infection.

Almost one-third of people with hepatitis B do not know that they are infected. While screening is recommended for all pregnant women, not all mothers are tested during pregnancy.

Even if mothers are tested, there is still the risk that they can become infected after testing has occurred. There is also the risk that newborns can be exposed to the disease through contact with other family members who haven’t been tested and/or are unaware that they have the virus. That’s why the newborn vaccination dose is so important to help prevent newborns developing the infection at birth.

The good news for Australia is that there are no changes to our vaccination program and the hepatitis B vaccination remains in place for all Australian newborns.

Is the newborn vaccine safe?

Yes. The hepatitis vaccine has been safely given to millions of newborns across the world within the first 24 hours of life.

Like any vaccine, some newborns may experience a reaction but the risk of serious harm is very low. Infants are more likely to experience mild side effects, if any, including pain, redness, or swelling at the injection site, which will usually last no more than a day or two.

Vaccination remains one of the most successful and cost-effective public health measures worldwide and has helped protect many people from many serious infectious diseases.

Over the past 50 years, childhood vaccines alone have prevented 154 million deaths globally – the vast majority in children under five.

In Australia, all vaccines must pass strict safety testing before being approved for use by the TGA. We also have a national program – AusVaxSafety – that monitors the type and rate of reactions to all vaccines on the National Immunisation Program.

You can find out more about the safety of vaccines given in Australia here>>

At Illawarra Medical Centre, we also utilise the SmartVax system as an additional vaccine safety measure for our patients. SmartVax uses SMS and smartphone technology to actively monitor vaccine safety in real time and feeds that information into the AusVaxSafety program.

For more information on this topic, visit:

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