A walk-in COVID vaccination hub will run at Cessnock Hospital on Friday, Cessnock MP Clayton Barr has confirmed.
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The Pfizer clinic, organised by NSW Health, will operate from the carpark near the hospital's emergency department.
Mr Barr has made approaches to the Prime Minister, Premier, ministers for health at Federal and State level and the Hunter New England Local Health District over several weeks to make this possible.
"I don't have the words to describe how excited I am," Mr Barr said.
"I saw yesterday, with the Awabakal vaccination hub in Cessnock, just how many people are desperately trying to get vaccinated as soon as they can.
"Of course we are really trying to reach the high risk and vulnerable communities like the homeless or at-risk of homelessness, those living with disabilities, our Indigenous communities and those with chronic health conditions - but no one will be turned away."
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The vaccination hub will be open to people aged 12 and over and will run from 10am to 4pm Friday (October 1), with another to follow at Finding Yellow Weston (92 Station Street) the following Friday.
It comes after more than 400 vaccines were administered at Awabakal Ltd's pop-up clinic at PCYC Cessnock on Wednesday.
Awabakal spokesperson Emma Levine said the clinic was a great success, and thanked Mr Barr and PCYC manager Matt Tredrea for their assistance.
"Clayton Barr helped us with a letter box drop the day before in the surrounding streets, which was a big help," she said.
"Matt from the PCYC was incredibly accommodating and supportive.
"The community as a whole were really appreciative and we were so glad we could help them get vaccinated."
Awabakal will hold another clinic at the PCYC for second doses on October 20.
The organisation has also partnered with Mindaribba Local Aboriginal Land Council to hold Pfizer clinics in Aberdare every Thursday.
These clinics are held at 55 Aberdare Road (the former newsagency) and are for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 12 and over. Bookings can be made on 4015 7000.
Meanwhile, Cessnock disability support provider Believe Services will hold Pfizer clinics at its Vincent Street office on Wednesday and Thursday next week.
These clinics will be for people with disability, disability workers and aged care workers, and their family members. Bookings for the Believe Services clinics can be made at https://27764.covidhub.com.au.
Moderna and AstraZeneca vaccines are now available at several local pharmacies and GP clinics, and people over 60 are now eligible for any of the three different types of vaccine offered in Australia.
As of Monday this week, 42.9 per cent of the Cessnock LGA's eligible population was fully vaccinated, with 77 percent having received one jab.
Some restrictions are set to be eased for fully-vaccinated people on October 11 after NSW reaches 70 per cent double-dosed, while Greater Sydney residents will be permitted to travel to the regions a couple of weeks later when the 80 per cent target is achieved.
"Hopefully, now, we can get our vaccination numbers above 70 and 80 per cent and enjoy some of the same 'freedoms' given to those city-based communities," Mr Barr said.
- Australian Community Media, the publisher of the Advertiser, is running a national campaign called VAXTHENATION to encourage those eligible to get the COVID-19 vaccine to do so as soon as possible to help protect our standard of health, lift our quality of living, and boost our economy. Read more here.