Health's planned vaccination clinics in Parkes and Forbes have been postponed, but the District has reassured people that more COVID-19 vaccines are coming our way.
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Western Local Health District chief executive Scott McLachlan on Tuesday confirmed the clinics had been postponed: they were to offer Astra Zeneca vaccination to those booked for their first dose of Pfizer after the Pfizer supply was diverted to Sydney.
Mr McLachlan said there had been some take up of the Astra Zeneca vaccination, and there were plenty of opportunities for people to get vaccinated with it.
"There's a lot of opportunity, it is a good safe vaccination," he said.
"We know that it's now recommended for everyone over the age of 18 and it's available, please come and book in for an AZ vaccine if you're at all interested in that."
The fully-booked two-day Parkes clinic and one-day Forbes clinic were to offer the first dose of Pfizer to people aged 40 to 59.
However with case numbers in Sydney increasing day to day, Premier Gladys Berejiklian announced that some of the country resources would be diverted to vaccinate HSC students in the hard-hit areas.
Mr McLachlan says there are increasing opportunities to get vaccinated in the Western region even if your Health appointment was postponed.
"There's a big volume of both Pfizer and Astra Zeneca going into both the private practices, AMS, pharmacies and respiratory clinics," he said.
"That's direct supply with the Commonwealth, not impacted at all by the changes through the State program.
"There is a lot of opportunity for people to get vaccinated."
Federal figures released this week indicate 40 per cent of Central West residents have received their first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, 16 per cent have had their second dose.
"We'd love to see double that rate and it's going to happen in coming months," Mr McLachlan said.
"It will improve as the supply of both Pfizer and Astra Zeneca come into the region in coming months.
"We know that there's a much bigger volume that will be available to make it easier for people to get particularly their Pfizer shot if they're interested in that."
The Health Chief Executive does believe the target of seeing 80 per cent of the eligible population vaccinated by the end of the year is possible with the combination of Health clinics as well as through all other channels.
You should use the Federal vaccine eligibility checker to identify your options.
