COVID-19 vaccinations – latest update

Updated 26 March 2023

COVID-19 booster vaccinations at Erskineville Doctors

If your last COVID vaccination or COVID infection was more than 6 months ago you are eligible for a COVID vaccine booster now (as long as you are over 18). This is particularly recommended for people aged 65+ or any of the high-risk categories previously identified.

Many of you will be come close to 12 months since your last vaccine, and efficacy is likely to be waning.

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How do I make an appointment for a booster dose?

We have variable supply of COVID vaccine and are generally offering it to people who attend for flu vaccines. Check the Vaccine Clinic Finder, to see if your local pharmacy has supply.

If you are eligible, your doctor may offer you a booster vaccine dose (if stock is available) at your next appointment. This can also be done at the same time as a flu vaccine. Do not book a consultation with a doctor for a COVID-19 vaccine only – you can receive a booster dose at any time from a pharmacy.

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Who should receive a booster dose?

All people aged 65 years and older and people aged 18 to 64 years who are at highest risk of severe COVID-19 illness are recommended to receive a booster dose in 2023.

Patients aged 18 to 64, who are not at higher risk of severe illness, should consider a booster dose.

More information about the Booster vaccination can be found on the NSW Health website .

General information on COVID-19 vaccinations can be found on the Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care website.

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Primary course of vaccination

Novavax is available at some locations as the primary vaccination (not yet as a booster) for anyone who hasn’t yet been vaccinated. You can use the Vaccine Clinic Finder, to find and book an appointment.

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Australian Immunisation Register (AIR)

We are required to upload the details of your vaccination to the AIR at the time of administering. If you wish to opt out of the AIR you need to contact them directly.

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Patient resources

COVID-19 and children

Approved COVID-19 vaccines

Preparing for a COVID-19 vaccination

After your vaccine and an explainer about your level of protection

Proof of vaccination and how to add it to your Service NSW app

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General information about vaccination

Immunisation Coalition

Australian Academy of Science

National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance (NCIRS)

Novel coronavirus (COVID-19) update

The COVID-19 situation is evolving every day, and we continue to work out the best way to care for all our patients.   We aim to avoid the practice being a source of transmission and are using many strategies to do so.  Please read our COVID-19 page for updates 

To help keep our staff and patients safe we are asking that every patient  book a phone consultation with our doctors. This allows for an extra level of screening, so that we can be prepared for any patient coming into the practice.  You will need to be ready with your phone in a quiet place when we call, as if it were a face to face consultation. After an initial consultation your doctor might request that you come into the practice. We are taking bookings for children’s immunisations, Antenatal visits and newborn checks, as long as patients and their parents are well.

We are asking all patients to report their cold/flu symptoms and any travel history when they call. Click here for a self-assessment guide.   

If you have travelled anywhere overseas in the past 14 days OR have been in close contact with a person who has a confirmed case of COVID-19, and are concerned about cold/flu symptoms – you should quarantine yourself at home. Please DO NOT attend the practice. Phone us on 9557 2266 and we will arrange a phone consultation with one of our doctors.

If we do ask you to attend the practice please follow our advice :

. wait outside until the doctor is ready, (will will SMS/call you)

. use hand sanitiser provided

. put on a mask as you enter the practice if you have any cold/flu symptoms

If you have severe difficulty breathing, call triple zero (000) immediately and tell the call handler and the paramedics on arrival about your recent travel history. Health Direct 1800 022 222 can provide advice if you have symptoms of concern and can’t get in touch with us. Click here for a self-assessment guide.  If you have mild symptoms, you should just stay at home and follow the self-isolation guide.

NSW Health  and the Commonwealth Department of Health are providing updates and resources about the novel coronavirus

For general information on the novel coronavirus (2019-nCov) you can call the National Coronavirus Health Information Line on 1800 020 080.

For the latest updates on the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV), visit the Department of Health website or WHO.

My Health Record

My Health Record is an online summary of some of your health information. Health information stored in your record can include information from you, your healthcare providers, and Medicare. It can be accessed by you through mygov.au, by any GP through their practice software, and hospital staff through their IT systems.

From 16 July 2018 the Government has decided to implement the My Health Record as an “opt-out” system, meaning that you will have a My Health Record created for you unless you decide to opt out. You will receive a letter from the Government (to the address associated with your Medicare card) in July 2018 advising you of this.

The initial period to opt out of having a My Health Record runs until 15 November. After that time you will have a My Health Record but this will not be activated until a health provider adds information. You can still choose to cancel you record after that time, so that information is not uploaded to it.

If you are interested in creating a My Health Record now you can register through the mygov.au website, or we can do it for you at the practice (an easier option).

Read more here

Online script and referral service has closed

Requests for repeat prescriptions and referrals via our online service have now closed and will re-open on Monday 5 January 2026.

Before calling reception to book an urgent appointment or make a request without consultation (fees apply), please double check if you still have valid repeats.

Each day our staff and doctors manage multiple enquiries or requests for the re-issue of lost or expired prescriptions.

To streamline this process, we encourage all patients to stay up to date with their prescription information. PBS prescriptions generally provide a standard supply of 1 month (28 or 30 days) with 5 repeats, providing a total duration of six months, unless specific exceptions apply. 

This means once your last repeat has been dispensed you will have a whole month to organise a new prescription with your regular doctor.  

To easily access this information regarding which repeat you are on, paper copies will state how many supplies have been dispensed and how many are left. 

If your prescription was issued as an e-script, this information is available via your My Heath Record using the my health app. The my health app allows you to store your electronic prescriptions and access your Active Script List. 

Holiday shutdown

Holiday shutdown

This year, the practice will be closed for the entire Christmas and New Year period; from 12:30pm Wednesday 24 December 2025 – Saturday 4 January 2026.

We will re-open at 7:30am on Monday 5 January 2026.

All staff and doctors are unavailable during this period.

In an emergency, call 000 or go to straight to Royal Prince Alfred Hospital Emergency Department at Missenden Road, Camperdown

For afterhours care, you can call the National Home Doctor Service on 13 74 25 from 6pm weekdays, 12pm on Saturdays and all-day Sundays and Public Holiday’s

Or, call healthdirect on 1800 022 222 anytime day or night if your or your child is unwell and you are not sure what to do or where to go healthdirect is free and available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. A registered nurse will answer your call, ask some questions, and connect you with the right care.

Doctors update

Welcome Dr Damian Gill

Dr Damian Gill completed a Bachelor of Medical Studies/Doctor of Medicine at UNSW and is a Fellow of The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners. Before transitioning into general practice, Damian gained experience across a range of medical specialties while working at St. Vincent’s Hospital Sydney, Wagga Wagga Base Hospital and Sydney Children’s Hospital, Randwick.

Damian enjoys all aspects of general practice and has particular interests in paediatrics, including child development, cardiovascular disease and respiratory disease. He is also passionate about proactive preventative healthcare and supporting patients to live well into old age. To complement his clinical work, Damian is currently completing a Masters of Public Health, with a focus on health promotion and health advocacy. He has also completed the Sydney Child Health Program.

Outside of medicine, Damian enjoys reading, hiking, playing field hockey, and spending time with his family.

Damian is available for appointments Tuesday, Thursday and Friday.

Goodbye for now: Doctors on leave

Stay up-to-date on who is going on leave in the next few months…

Dr Cara Frame: 22 November – 7 December 2025

Dr Madeleine Max: 15 December 2025 – 5 January 2026

Dr Linda Taoube: 15 December 2025 – 11 January 2026

Thank you for your feedback

Thank you for your feedback

Thank you for participating in the online survey we recently conducted to collect feedback from our patients.  We have taken the time to analyse and consider the feedback and would like to share some of the findings with you.  Overall, we found that most of our patients:

• feel respected  

• feel their fears and concerns are heard 

• are confident in the ability and explanations of our clinical staff

The feedback also indicated areas that we can improve, and as a result, we have been making some changes to improve the services and care we provide:

Your feedbackWhat we are doing
waiting times at the practice  – Reception staff will send a SMS notifying you if your doctor is running late before you arrive.  

– We regularly provide doctors data of their wait times.

– We encourage patients to consider their role in ensuring a smooth and efficient experience at the GP through patient education; https://theconversation.com/why-do-doctors-run-late-264977

– We have a variety of “appointment types” available online. If you are unsure what length appointment to book, please ask our reception staff.   
seeing a preferred nurse or doctor  – All patients are offered the option to book the first available appointment, then are placed on the waitlist for their preferred doctor. The waitlist allows our
reception staff to contact you straight away if an appointment becomes available.

– We also encourage patients to discuss with their doctor, who their “Buddy Doctor” is. We recommend patients see this alternative GP when their regular doctor is on leave or not available to ensure continuity of care.

– Dependent on the doctor’s workload, we aim to allocate some ‘on the day’ appointments for urgent issues each morning at 8am. It is not guaranteed there will be an appointment available with your preferred GP.  If your issue is not urgent, we encourage you to be placed on the waitlist.
access to after-hours doctors  – We have an agreement with the Home Doctor service, which provides after-hours care and home visits. Patients can call the National Home Doctor Service on 13 74 25 from 6pm weekdays, 12pm on Saturdays and all-day Sundays and Public Holidays. A summary of your visit will be sent to your regular GP.

– The past two years has seen the introduction of several government funded after hour services such as HealthDirect, Medicare Urgent Care Services and VirtualKids. Information about these services is included in our newsletters and on our website.
making an appointment   – The easiest way to book an appointment is online via our website or using the AMS connect app. This system shows appointments available in real-time.  
– Please get in touch if you experience any technical difficulties

We encourage feedback from our patients about their care and about our practice. 

You can contact us using the online feedback form or by asking to speak to our Practice Manager, Meg.

Doctors update

Goodbye for now: Doctors on leave

Stay up-to-date on who is going on leave in the next few months.

Dr Jennifer Lonergan: 4 – 12 October 2025

Dr Madeleine Max: 6 – 24 October 2025

Dr Mabel Chew: 8 October – 24 November 2025

Dr John Kevin: 3 – 11 November 2025

Dr Cara Frame: 22 November – 7 December 2025

ADHD care in General Practice

ADHD care in General Practice

From 1 September, the first stage of the NSW ADHD reforms allows children and young people aged 6 to 17 years, who have already been diagnosed with ADHD and stabilised on their medication to see their GP for ongoing prescriptions.

Upon completion of a training course endorsed by NSW Ministry of Health and application to the NSW Ministry of Health (the Ministry) Pharmaceutical Services Unit (PSU) a GP may be able to prescribe psychostimulant medications for patients previously diagnosed with ADHD and stabilised on their medications.

For more information about these changes to ADHD prescribing please make an appointment with you or your child’s regular doctor.

Please note, a second stage of reforms will support a small number of GPs in priority areas to diagnose ADHD and start medication in children and young people.

We do not yet have any information about when the second stage will be implemented or how it will be funded. In the interim, please book an an appointment with you or your child’s regular doctor to discuss the referral pathways for diagnosis and management of ADHD.

For adults who have already been diagnosed with ADHD and stabilised on their medication their GP may be able to apply for authority to provide ongoing prescriptions. Please make an appointment to discuss your eligibility and the process with your regular GP.

Labour Day holiday hours

The practice will be closed for the Labour Day public holiday on Monday 6 October 2025.

We will re-open at 7:30am on Tuesday 7 October 2025.

All staff and doctors are unavailable during this period.  

In an emergency, call 000 or go to straight to Royal Prince Alfred Hospital Emergency Department at Missenden Road, Camperdown.

For afterhours care, you can call the National Home Doctor Service on 13 74 25 from 6pm weekdays, 12pm on Saturdays and all-day Sundays and Public Holidays.

Or, call healthdirect on 1800 022 222 anytime day or night if your or your child is unwell and you are not sure what to do or where to go.

healthdirect is free and available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. A registered nurse will answer your call, ask some questions, and connect you with the right care.

Temporary change of opening hours

Due to important staff training we will be closing the following days:

Wednesday 3 September 20257:30am – 4:30pm
Friday 5 September 20257:30am – 4:30pm
Monday 8 September 20257:30am – 4:30pm
Tuesday 9 September 20257:30am – 4:30pm
Friday 12 September 20257:30am – 4:30pm

Appointments can be managed online, or via the AMS Connect App.

Call healthdirect on 1800 022 222 to get free and fast medical attention for health issues that are not an emergency​​​ or go to Balmain GP Casualty at 29 Booth Street, Balmain.

In an emergency, always call 000 or go to straight to Royal Prince Alfred Hospital (RPAH) Emergency Department at Missenden Road, Camperdown.

For urgent, on the day issues please go to Balmain GP Casualty at 29 Booth Street, Balmain – 02 9395 2155 between 8am and 10pm, 7 days a week or call the National Home Doctor Service on 13 74 25 from 6pm weekdays, 12pm on Saturdays and all-day Sundays and Public Holidays.

In an emergency, always call 000 or go to straight to Royal Prince Alfred Hospital (RPAH) Emergency Department at Missenden Road, Camperdown.

Doctors update

Goodbye for now: Doctors on leave

Stay up-to-date on who is going on leave in the next few months:

Dr Annabel Kain: 22 August – 10 September 2025

Dr Patti Walton: 1 – 16 September 2025

Dr John Kevin: 5 – 9 September 2025

Dr Shereena Sinayyah: 16 – 21 September 2025

Dr Sorayya Cooper: 20 – 28 September 2025

Dr Jennifer Lonergan: 4 – 12 October 2025

Welcome back: Dr Catherine Pratten

We are excited to inform you that Dr Catherine Pratten is back from leave!

Dr Catherine, who only works on Thursday, specialises in Womens Health.

She has a special interest women’s reproductive and sexual health and is certified to advise on menopause, contraceptive methods and can insert all types of IUDs (intrauterine devices) and Implanon (hormonal implants). She has a Certificate in Reproductive and Sexual Health from Family Planning NSW. Catherine has been a doctor since 1984 and a General Practitioner since 1988.

New patients

New patients

With the arrival of a number of new doctors, we’re pleased to announce an increase in our capacity to welcome new patients to the practice.

To book a new patient appointment, please call reception on 02 9557 2266. You will be asked some basic information at the time of booking. You will receive an SMS message, with a secure link to complete your new patient form. This information is loaded directly into your patient file.

New patient appointments are 30 minutes in length. This is to ensure that your GP will have the time to discuss essential medical and family history.

Doctors seeing new patients – August 2025

Dr Aarti Ganapathi

Dr Aarti works every Tuesday and alternating Saturdays. Dr Aarti has special interests in women and children’s health, mental health, management of chronic and complex illness, addiction medicine, sexual health, and care for LGBTQ+ communities

Dr Brodie Hookins

Dr Brodie alternates working Thursdays and Wednesdays each week. Dr Brodie has special interests in dermatology (including skin checks), women’s health, men’s health, and pain management.

Dr Mabel Chew

Dr Mabel works every Tuesday. Dr Mabel has special interests in women health mental health, management of chronic and complex illness and pain management.

Dr Mabel does not see young children, and please do not book with her for vaccinations or procedures.

Dr Sorayya Cooper

Dr Sorayya works every Monday and Friday and alternating Saturdays. Dr Sorayya has special interests in women’s health, sexual health and preventative health.