NSW Health is to prioritise teachers and aged care workers for COVID-19 vaccination, with the opening of a new vaccination hub at Fairfield Showground this Friday 16 July.
Premier, Gladys Berejiklian said teachers and aged care workers in the Fairfield, Canterbury Bankstown and Liverpool Local Government Areas (LGAs), where there was a greater concern of COVID-19 transmission, would be in the priority group.
“NSW Health vaccination clinics and centres will now begin making the AstraZeneca vaccine available to people aged over 40,” Ms Berejiklian said.
“And NSW will green-light pharmacies across the state to do the same,” she said.
“Anyone aged 18-39 wishing to get the AstraZeneca jab is encouraged to talk to their GP.”
Ms Berejiklian said NSW had also approached the Federal Government to ask that any unused GP Pfizer vaccines be redirected to NSW Health hubs.
The Premier said the changes would be complimented by the opening of three new mass vaccination centres in Lake Macquarie, Macquarie Fields and Wollongong, as well as a large vaccination clinic in the Sydney CBD.
“If we get sufficient supply, these new centres will allow NSW Health to vaccinate up to 200,000 people every week,” she said.
Ms Berejiklian said the Lake Macquarie centre and the Sydney CBD clinic were scheduled to open on Monday 19 July.
Minister for Education and Early Childhood Learning, Sarah Mitchell welcomed the move and encouraged teachers in eligible LGAs to take advantage of the opportunity.
“Over half our workforce are eligible for the vaccine and now teachers in areas of concern for COVID-19 transmission have priority access,” Ms Mitchell said.
She said the priority access extended to all staff, including teachers, administration staff and support officers working for Government and non-Government schools in the designated LGAs.
Ms Mitchell said eligible staff would be issued links to access a vaccine appointment and would need to provide proof of employment when they arrived for their vaccination.
Further information on vaccine eligibility and to book an appointment can be accessed on the Australian Department of Health’s website at this PS News link.
