The Central West will have one of the state's first COVID-19 vaccination hubs, the NSW Government confirmed on Thursday evening Dubbo will be one of 11 sites set up for the initial stages of the rollout.
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Vaccine hubs will be run out at some of NSW's largest hospitals, with Dubbo confirmed as a hub along with Royal Price Alfred, Westmead, Liverpool, Hornsby, St George, Nepean, John Hunter in Newcastle, Wollongong, Coffs Harbour and Wagga Wagga hospitals.
Those hubs will be the first to offer Phase 1a priority groups the Pfizer vaccine, expected from next month, with the rollout to be conducted in stages.
NSW Health conceded limited doses are expected in the first few months, with frontline workers like ambulance and patient transport staff, emergency department staff and critical care ward staff the first eligible.
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Transport workers are also likely to be among the first vaccinated and, in an update on its website, NSW Health said additional hubs and clinics could be established should supply increase during the initial phase.
"Once more vaccine doses become available from Phase 1b, it is expected that one or more COVID-19 vaccines will be available for the wider population through usual immunisation providers, including GP practices, GP respiratory clinics and Aboriginal health services," NSW Health said.
Australia is also waiting for the Therapeutic Goods Administration to approve the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine, which is expected to be available from late March.
The announcement came as Queensland confirmed it would open its borders to all of NSW from February 1, in a move welcomed by NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian as "the best outcome".
The Premier said she was relieved to learn Queensland would ease its border restrictions with NSW, saying there was "no justification" for internal border restrictions in Australia.
Thursday was also the 11th consecutive day of zero community transmission across NSW on Thursday, with three cases in returned overseas travellers, ahead of mask and indoor gathering restrictions easing on Friday.
The Premier said she was relieved to learn Queensland would ease its border restrictions with NSW, saying there was "no justification" for internal border restrictions in Australia.
Matt Findlay
Formerly a sports specialist, I'm based at Orange and shift between wide-spread range of subjects here and, often, across the entire Central West region of NSW as well. I have almost a decade of experience in the media and marketing industries both here in Australia and internationally, along with journalism I have experience in content strategy, brand development, and digital and social media. Along the way, I've been fortunate to win a handful of media awards and be nominated for several others too.
Formerly a sports specialist, I'm based at Orange and shift between wide-spread range of subjects here and, often, across the entire Central West region of NSW as well. I have almost a decade of experience in the media and marketing industries both here in Australia and internationally, along with journalism I have experience in content strategy, brand development, and digital and social media. Along the way, I've been fortunate to win a handful of media awards and be nominated for several others too.
