Residents are being urged to roll up their sleeves – or opt for a needle-free alternative – as a series of free flu vaccination clinics are rolled out across Tamworth ahead of the winter season.
Tamworth Aboriginal Medical Service (TAMS-AC) will host a free community vaccination clinic on Saturday 9 May, with a focus on keeping “mob well this flu season” while welcoming the broader community to attend.
The clinic will run from 9am to 12pm at TAMS-AC, 180 Peel Street, and will offer free flu vaccinations, including FluMist nasal spray for eligible children, as well as food for those attending.
Importantly, organisers say no appointment is needed, and people do not need to be an existing patient to receive a vaccine.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are strongly encouraged to attend, with the flu vaccine available free of charge for all Aboriginal people aged six months and over. However, the clinic is open to everyone in the community.
The initiative comes as health services prepare for the annual spike in influenza cases during the colder months, with early vaccination considered the most effective way to reduce the risk of severe illness.
Families with young children may also benefit from the availability of FluMist, a nasal spray option that avoids the need for needles, making it a more comfortable choice for some children.
TAMS-AC is not the only service stepping up vaccination efforts. Armajun Aboriginal Health Service will also host a free flu vaccination clinic on Thursday 7 May at the Living Together Centre, running from 10am to 2pm, with morning tea and lunch provided.
The clinics are part of a broader push across the region, with a number of Aboriginal Medical Services already holding vaccination days in recent weeks and more expected to follow.
Health authorities are encouraging people to check with their local Aboriginal Medical Service, general practice, pharmacy or immunisation clinic for additional opportunities to receive the flu vaccine.
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