Bendigo Respiratory Clinic

COVID 19 TESTING and GP RESPIRATORY ASSESSMENT

The Bendigo Respiratory Clinic is one of the Australian Government GP respiratory clinics being established around the country to provide COVID 19 Testing and to clinically assess people with mild to moderate COVID-19 symptoms.

Anyone developing symptoms such as fever, cough, shortness of breath, a sore throat or persistent headaches, should arrange to be tested as soon as possible. Results are returned within 24 - 48 hours.

The clinic is able to provide testing for asymptomatic patients if directed to do so by the Department of Health due to possible exposure.

Please note this clinic is unable to provide testing for asymptomatic patients for the purpose of a work, travel or pre-surgery clearance.

COVID 19 VACCINATIONS

ASTRAZENECA vaccine is available for all people aged 60 years and over.

Appointments can be booked online by clicking BOOK COVID-19 VACCINATION or call 1800 573 196

PFIZER vaccination available for people aged 59 years and younger who meet the current criteria.
This includes health care, RACF, frontline emergency workers. People with chronic disease, disability and pregnant women.
You will need to provide evidence of your eligibility

Appointments by phone call only - 1800 573 196

To check eligibility go to Vaccines Eligibility Checker

https://covid-vaccine.healthdirect.gov.au/eligibility?lang=en

The Facts

What is COVID-19

Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses that cause respiratory infections. These can range from the common cold to more serious diseases.

COVID-19 is a disease caused by a new form of coronavirus. It was first reported in December 2019 in Wuhan City in China.

Symptoms

Symptoms of COVID-19 can range from mild illness to pneumonia. Some people will recover easily, and others may get very sick very quickly.

People with coronavirus may experience:

fever
symptoms such as coughing, a sore throat and fatigue
shortness of breath

How it spreads

The virus can spread from person to person through:

close contact with an infectious person (including in the 24 hours before they had symptoms)
contact with droplets from an infected person’s cough or sneeze
touching objects or surfaces (like doorknobs or tables) that have droplets from an infected person, and then touching your mouth or face

Who is most at risk

In Australia, the people most at risk of getting the virus are:

travelers who have recently been overseas
those who have been in close contact with someone who has been diagnosed with COVID-19
people in correctional and detention facilities
people in group residential settings

People who are, or are more likely to be, at higher risk of serious illness if they get the virus are:

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people 50 years and older with one or more chronic medical conditions
people 65 years and older with chronic medical conditions
people 70 years and older
people with compromised immune systems

At this stage the risk to children and babies, and the role children play in the transmission of COVID-19, is not clear. However, there has so far been a low rate of confirmed COVID-19 cases among children, relative to the broader population.

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