Issue 15 - 19th October, 2012 - Academy of Mary Immaculate

Care Monkey and Asthma Australia
CareMonkey is a safe and free web app for sharing health care information. Asthma Australia has partnered with
CareMonkey in order to contribute to the safety and well-being of people with asthma. Parents can create a profile for
their child in CareMonkey which can be shared with trusted carers, including family, friends, teachers and sports coaches.
Vital information such as emergency contacts, health and safety alerts, medications, allergy details, asthma plan and more
can be easily shared.
Consider creating a profile for your child with asthma (or other medical condition) and share this with others including the
staff at your school or preschool.
Go to caremonkey.com for more information.
Holiday and Festival Asthma Trigger Warning
The upcoming holiday season and festivities planned during Term 4 and throughout the summer holidays may mean that
your child is exposed to new triggers for their asthma. It is important for parents and carers, and children themselves, to
be aware of changes to their environment and the activities that may impact on their asthma.
Christmas trees, both real and artificial could be triggers for people with asthma. Artificial trees may be quite dusty after
being stored away, while both real and artificial trees may harbour mould. It is important to ensure that artificial trees
are cleaned appropriately and that care is taken to select real trees that do not produce wind-borne pollen. All tree and
other decorations should cleaned and free from dust and mould when used at home.
Scented candles, room deodorisers and air fresheners may also trigger asthma in those susceptible to perfumes, and care
should be taken when purchasing these and other scented items at home.
Lastly, the added pressures of the year drawing to a close can cause stress and anxiety for many people, potentially
triggering asthma attacks. It is important to consider ways that the whole family can enjoy the holidays and feel safe
happy and comfortable.
Happy Holidays from The Asthma Foundation of Victoria.
For further information, please contact the Asthma Foundation of Victoria on 1800 645 130 or email schools@asthma.org.au
Limited Time Left for Year 7& 8’s to Access HPV Vaccine for Free
There are only a few weeks left for girls in Year 7 to start their HPV immunisation course free of charge. Once the school
year is over, these girls will no longer be able to join the free school-based immunisation program, and the three-dose
vaccine will need to be purchased from a GP or other health service provider at a cost of approximately $450 altogether.
The HPV - or human papillomavirus - vaccine has been provided to girls in Year 7 since 2007 as part of the National
Immunisation Program. To get free immunisation in Victoria, girls must commence the course in Year 7 and complete all
doses by the end of Year 8. After that time, any missed dose must be paid for at approximately $150 each.
Ideally all three doses will be given within a 6 month period - 0, 2 and 6 months – however research shows if the second
and third doses are given later than planned, the body still responds to the vaccine and makes antibodies which protect
against HPV infection. This means it is still beneficial to complete the full three-dose course of the vaccine, even if doses
aren't received at the correct intervals.
The HPV vaccine protects against four types of HPV which cause around 70 per cent of cervical cancers. It is important
for all girls to complete the full course to ensure the best possible protection against the disease and other HPV-related
illnesses.
If your daughter has still not started or completed the HPV vaccine course, please contact your local health provider as
soon as possible. Missed doses can be obtained through public council immunisation sessions and your local GP.
If you are unsure if your daughter is fully immunised, contact City of Yarra 92055166 (Year 7 students) or the National
HPV Vaccination Program Register (Year 8 students) on 1800 478 734.
If you need more information, visit www.hpvvaccine.org.au or call the Cancer Council Helpline on 13 11 20.
Academy of Mary Immaculate
Mercy Education Limited. CAN 154 531 870
88 Nicholson Street, Fitzroy 3065, Telephone: (03) 9419 3044 Fax: (03) 9419 3885, Email: academy @academy.vic.edu.au