With Phase 1B of the COVID-19 vaccination being rolled out through GPs beginning Monday, March 22, local medical centres are already being besieged with phone calls from people wanting to book in for COVID-19 vaccinations.
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Wingham Family Health Clinic announced on Facebook on Tuesday, March 16 that they are a registered COVID-19 vaccination clinic. Although they requested that people not call the surgery to try and book a vaccination, the next day they were "slammed with phone calls", a receptionist said.
Donna Croker, Wingham Family Health Clinic practice manager, said they were only being given 80 doses for week one, and 100 per week until such time as supplies grew.
"The roll out is slow and there are minimal vaccines," Donna said.
"Initially we will have a small regular supply of the COVID vaccine that will be prioritised according to the Health Department guidelines," the Facebook post said.
"We will be in contact with patients according to their priority. Please be patient, we will receive a regular supply and are conducting COVID clinics regularly. Please do not ring us to arrange your vaccination. We will contact you."
People eligible to be vaccinated in phase 1B are:
- Adults aged 70 and over.
- Health care workers who have not already been vaccinated as frontline workers.
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders aged 55 and over.
- Younger adults with specific underlying medical conditions, including those with a disability.
- Clinical and high risk workers, including defence, police, fire, emergency services, and meat processing.
To find out if you are eligible for vaccination in phase 1B and to locate a clinic near you who are providing vaccinations, visit https://covid-vaccine.healthdirect.gov.au/eligibility and complete the questions. The list of available locations will then be provided to you. You can book online through the site.
Not all medical centres are signing up to deliver the vaccinations, and not all are signed up to begin immediately.
"More will come online in coming weeks," Donna said.
With the influx of people moving to the area seeking a sea- or tree-change, many surgeries have had to close their books to new patients. Those people will be referred to the Health Hub's respiratory clinic.
"As more clinics join this phase and more vaccines become available, the number of online appointments you can book here will increase," the site states.
For the lastest COVID-19 vaccination updates visit www.health.gov.au/covid10-vaccines.
Julia Driscoll
Julia Driscoll has worked as a journalist for the Wingham Chronicle and Manning River Times for seven years. She values the deep connection with community that being a rural and regional journalist brings. Career highlights have involved environmental stories - bringing the plight of the little known endangered Manning River helmeted turtle to the attention of the public, resulting in wide-spread knowledge in the community and conservation action; and breaking the news of the Manning River ceasing to run for the first time in recorded history.
Julia Driscoll has worked as a journalist for the Wingham Chronicle and Manning River Times for seven years. She values the deep connection with community that being a rural and regional journalist brings. Career highlights have involved environmental stories - bringing the plight of the little known endangered Manning River helmeted turtle to the attention of the public, resulting in wide-spread knowledge in the community and conservation action; and breaking the news of the Manning River ceasing to run for the first time in recorded history.
