Doctors want meningococcal updates daily

THE State Government is under fire over claims it has failed to provide enough information quickly on the meningococcal outbreak. SEE WHAT YOU SHOULD DO

THE State Government is under fire over claims it has failed to provide enough information quickly on the meningococcal outbreak.

General practitioners inundated with calls from anxious parents want daily updates on the unfolding situation as the number of cases climbs.

Two men diagnosed on Wednesday with the potentially deadly disease took the number of cases over the past two weeks to five.

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Royal Australian College of General Practitioners president Bastian Seidel said communication from Public Health on the outbreak had not been good enough.

“We as GPs, who are seeing patients on a daily basis, with concerned parents asking how they can protect [their children] against meningococcal, are pretty much left in the dark,” Dr Seidel said.

“We as clinicians need to know what we are advising our patients on.

“We have received nothing from the Department of Health since July 13 and that was just to inform that there is a vaccination for teenagers.”

Dr Seidel said more information was needed, more often.

“I would expect literally updates on a daily basis,” he said.

“If it’s good enough to come out with a headline that we are going to introduce a nation-leading vaccination program, then we also need a commitment to deliver beyond that headline.”

RACGP president Bastian Seidel said GPs need more information and more often. Picture: SAM ROSEWARNE

Labor on Wednesday accused Health Minister Michael Ferguson of failing to immediately warn Tasmanians about the latest cases of the disease.

Opposition health spokeswoman Sarah Lovell said Mr Ferguson should have told the public about a fourth case revealed to health workers on Tuesday.

Staff reportedly received notification of the case in the minutes before Mr Ferguson gave a press conference.

“Michael Ferguson has not only been missing in action on this extremely important issue, he has suppressed the flow of information crucial to families and all Tasmanians,” Ms Lovell said.

Premier Will Hodgman should act to stand the minister aside, Ms Lovell said.

The call prompted an angry response from Mr Ferguson.

“I was not aware of another confirmed case of meningococcal disease prior to Tuesday’s media conference … and for Ms Lovell to suggest otherwise is completely misleading and irresponsible,” he said.

Federal independent MP for Denison, Andrew Wilkie, said the Federal Government needed to do more to make vaccinations available and affordable.

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WHAT YOU SHOULD DO

President of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners, Dr Bastian Seidel, talks about how to deal with meningococcal.

1 CONSULT YOUR GP

“Now is not the time for generalised advice. The appropriate advice really is to seek specific information from your usual GP to see what vaccinations would be appropriate for you.

“The most important thing people can do right now is to contact their usual GP to really ask about specific, individual advice on how they can protect themselves and whether a vaccination is the appropriate way for them.”

2 GET VACCINATED

“There often is no one size fits all approach, the best way to [protect] yourself from suffering from meningococcal disease is to have the vaccinations.

“There are different types of vaccinations available, and some people might have already had one vaccination, other people might not have had the vaccination.

“Vaccinations are available over the age of six weeks … there are various vaccines available, there are various schedules available, the schedule depends on the age of the person as well.

“It’s very different for a six-year-old compared to a 60-year-old person.

“[Once you have a prescription,] the vaccinations, I believe, are still very much available in Tasmania from the chemist.”

3 DON’T PANIC

“There is no need to panic, but it is absolutely appropriate for communities to seek advice.”