Announcements

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This page will be updated regularly, so please check back. Stay safe, stay healthy, stay active!

To attend any of the talks and courses below, please go to the Course Enrolment page and fill out the Enrolment Form. Remember to turn up for whatever event in which you have enrolled.

Upcoming Events (go to the Calendar for more information)

  • 29 March, 2023, 7:30 am: Walking Group
  • 29 March, 2023, 10:00 am: Talk - Planes, trains, boats, buses and automobiles across Canada and North America
  • 29 March, 2023, 5:00 pm: Healthy Lifestyle Group
  • 30 March, 2023, 9:30 am: Qigong Tai Chi with Lesley Jenkins
  • 30 March, 2023, 1:00 pm: Happy Snappers Photography Group
  • 31 March, 2023, 1:00 pm: Mahjong Friday
  • 1 April, 2023, 2:00 pm: "Word Weavers" Writing group
  • 3 April, 2023, 9:30 am: Mahjong

Fifth Covid vaccine booster now available (posted 22 Feb 23)

All people aged 18 and over, who have not had either a COVID-19 vaccine or confirmed coronavirus case in the past six months, can get another booster shot from February 20. ATAGI has said while all COVID-19 booster shots are beneficial, Omicron-specific mRNA vaccines are preferred. These include Moderna’s bivalent BA.1 vaccine, Pfizer’s bivalent BA.1 vaccine, and Pfizer’s new BA.4/5 jab — which will be available from March 6. Moderna also has a new BA.4/5 vaccine which has just been approved.

Evidence from “extensive use” of both Pfizer and Moderna’s BA.4/5 bivalent boosters in the US and Europe in recent months has shown they both provide “clear reductions in hospitalisation and death”, according to the TGA. One study in the US found vaccine effectiveness against hospitalisation or death with a bivalent BA.4/5 booster (either Pfizer or Moderna) was 61.8 per cent, compared to 24.9 per cent effectiveness from an original booster.

Another (preprint) study in Nordic countries found vaccine effectiveness against hospitalisation with a second booster of a BA.4/5 bivalent vaccine was 80 per cent, compared with a second booster of an original vaccine at 65 per cent effectiveness.

Given the “imminent availability” of the BA.4/5 boosters, epidemiologist Professor Nolan said he believed it was potentially worth holding on for. However, if you were heading overseas very soon, the advice is have whatever booster is available rather than wait for the new vaccines.

Emergency Contact Information (posted 21 Jan 23)

What would happen if you were out in public and needed urgent care but couldn’t communicate with first responders? Do you have an ID on you? How will they call your emergency contacts? Your mobile phone could be your lifeline!

There is a way to put emergency information on your phone and make it accessible from the lock screen. It’s extremely important to do it. Additionally, everyone should know how to find this information for someone else having an emergency.

I have put detailed instructions on how to input your emergency medical information and contact numbers in Tech Tips, whether you have an Android or an iPhone. Please do this. Once you have put your info into your phone, practice finding it. Make sure you show others, such as grandchildren, how to find the info as well!

Qld Government Seniors Page (posted 21 Jan 23)

The Qld Govt has a web page dedicated to seniors that some may find useful. Currently it contains a survey seeking the views of older Queenslanders to inform the development of a new state-wide strategy to replace the 2016 Age Friendly Community Action Plan. A lot of waffle about plans and workshops comes out of these strategies, but sometimes beneficial and useful actions result. If interested, go to this page.

Of more practical use is this page about whether you are making the most of all the rebates and concessions you are entitled to.

Latest Coronavirus Rules (posted 5 Nov 22, updated 20 Jan 23)

As we have done consistently throughout this pandemic, this U3A continues to follow the Qld government’s Covid health directives. The wearing of masks and compulsory isolation are no longer mandatory in Queensland, except in some situations. However, some places such as a doctor’s surgery may still require you to wear a mask. In our Room 22, masks are optional. However, we do ask that if you have any symptoms of a cold, the flu or Covid, stay home and get tested!

Queensland now has a “traffic light” system which describes the current level of Covid in the community. Currently, the level is Green, which means there are moderate rates of community transmission and Queensland is entering a new wave. A full explanation can be viewed by clicking here.

The following has been copied from the Qld Government website.

From 6 p.m. Monday 31 October 2022, there are no Public Health Directions in effect requiring you to wear a face mask.

Masks are still recommended:

Queensland Health’s traffic light system will help you understand the current level of risk and take appropriate precautions.

From 14 October 2022, it is no longer mandatory to self-isolate at home if you test positive to COVID-19. If you have symptoms or have tested positive to COVID-19, Queensland Health strongly recommends you:

  • stay home to isolate until you no longer have acute respiratory symptoms
  • avoid entering hospitals, residential aged care facilities and disability accommodation services for at least 7 days and only when you no longer have any symptoms
  • wear a face mask in an indoor setting and if you are unable to physically distance outside for at least 7 days after testing positive to COVID-19.