Several Goulburn and district medical clinics are poised to start delivering the COVID-19 vaccinations to eligible people from early next week.
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Most say they've been inundated with phone calls from the community and have capacity to deliver more of the AstraZeneca vaccine than has been supplied.
The roll-out coincides with the establishment of vaccination clinics across the Southern NSW Local Health District for its workers from Thursday, March 18.
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Three private clinics in Goulburn and one in Crookwell have been selected by the federal government to deliver the AstraZeneca vaccine to those eligible for phase 1b from next week. They are Goulburn Medical Clinic, Marima Medical Clinic, Bradfordville Family Medical Centre and Crookwell Health Care Centre.
Phase 1b includes people aged over 70, 'other health care workers,' Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders over 55, adults with specified medical conditions, adults with a disability who have a specified underlying medical condition and critical and high risk workers such as defence, police, fire, emergency services and meat processing personnel.
Goulburn Medical Clinic practice manager Maree Stapleton said vaccinations would begin for eligible people on Monday. But at this stage only 80 vaccines had been supplied by the federal Department of Health for the first week
"We've been inundated with phone calls so we're establishing a priority list and will book more in as the vaccine rolls out," she said.
"...The difficulty is we're getting a limited supply. We could have also set up on a Saturday (in addition to weekdays) and had a rotating roster but we can't do that without the vaccines."
The clinic's chairman, Dr Rod McConnell echoed this sentiment, saying the practice had capacity to vaccinate all of Goulburn but didn't have the supply.
So far, 200 people are on the clinic's list to receive the two-phase jab, 12 weeks apart. Mrs Stapleton said people were largely keen to receive the vaccination, with only several expressing concern about possible side-effects.
"Anyone over 70 or who fits the criteria needs to contact their GP or clinic and if they have concerns, we encourage them to discuss them with their doctor," she said.
Marima practice manager Kim Weeks said the clinic had been tagged for 100 vaccines in the first week but would receive eighty. Vaccinations will start on Tuesday.
"We were absolutely smashed with about 400 phone calls on Wednesday from people over 70 and from those who didn't know whether they were eligible to receive it," she said.
The federal health department sets out eligibility criteria on its website but people are also urged to check with their GP if unsure.
Mrs Weeks said all clinics were currently reliant on the limited supply of overseas produced AstraZeneca vaccines. Melbourne-based pharmaceutical company CSL is yet to gain approval for local manufacture. She expected to soon reach the 100 promised vaccines weekly and more to flow once CSL secured sign-off.
"We have four nurses who have been trained (to give the jab) and our capacity will be whatever vaccines they can give us," she said.
Meantime, Bradfordville Health Hub won't receive the vaccines until April 12. Practice manager Sophie Ashton said this was part of the government's staged approach.
"I think most practices in Goulburn will be allowed to distribute it in time. At this stage it appears to be based on the number of doctors," she said.
Clinic had to lodge an expression of interest.
The Hub has three full-time equivalent GPs who will start delivering the allocated 50 vaccines a week. Currently there are 100 people on its register. Mrs Ashton said the facility could have "easily handled" 400 per week but was bound by the government's distribution.
"To me it doesn't make sense but at the same time, Australia is not in a huge rush to get it. If we were in Europe, for example, I'd be appalled but I think we are in a lucky position," she said.
"There will be pressure on supply for a while despite most practices having capacity to deliver more."
Local clinic for health workers
In related news, the Southern NSW Local Health District has confirmed new COVID-19 vaccination clinic locations for all its workers, starting from Thursday, March 18.
One will be set up in Goulburn from Tuesday, March 23 to 26. Health workers will receive the Pfizer jab.
"The new outreach clinics will be supported by the Wollongong Hospital hub and are in addition to those already available for SNSWLHD staff at South East Regional Hospital, Liverpool Hospital and the Canberra Hospital," a spokesperson said.
Second doses for Phase 1a (including front line) staff will begin from March 23, across multiple sites.
Phase 1b SNSWLHD staff have started receiving COVID-19 vaccinations at some locations where Phase 1a vaccinations have finished. Phase 1b includes all health workers.
The Health District's vaccination coordinator Leanne Ovington said she was pleased with the roll out.
"The new outreach clinics will help us reach the last Priority 1a staff still to be vaccinated. Starting vaccinations of our Priority 1b workers is an exciting milestone for our District," she said.
The Goulburn outreach clinic planned in collaboration with Wollongong Hospital will be held from March 23 to 26 and for the second dose, April 13 to 16.
Outreach clinics have also been established at Cooma and Braidwood.
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Louise Thrower
If you have a story to tell, drop me a line at louise.thrower@austcommunitymedia.com.au or call 0418 229 678.
If you have a story to tell, drop me a line at louise.thrower@austcommunitymedia.com.au or call 0418 229 678.
