Tamworth COVID-19 vaccine rollout: AstraZeneca vaccinations delivered to GP practices as bookings, processes start

The city's first shot has been injected, but it will be a slower start to the GP immunisation program for others.

The first five Tamworth practices on the list to give out the jab locally have received doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine, and will begin immunising people under Phase 1b of the rollout this week.

The Belmore Surgery, Windmill Practice, Northwest Health and Peel Health Care confirmed plans are in place to scale up vaccinations in the coming days. My GP Tamworth is also on the list, but declined to comment.

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The Belmore Surgery started vaccinating eligible people on Tuesday, and appointments can be made over the phone.

Northwest Health will run a vaccination centre out of the Tamworth Respiratory Clinic from Wednesday, and eligible locals are encouraged to book online where possible.

It's understood a couple of local clinics will focus on vaccinating their eligible regular patients before opening up slots to the public.

Primary Health Network executive director John Baillie said that was "perfectly appropriate".

"If they get through the Phase 1b list of their own patients then the expectation is that they would continue to vaccinate other 1b people from other practices," he said.

"People whose practice chose not to participate can either wait until their practice comes on board later in the year or alternatively, attend the respiratory clinic."

Mr Baillie said dozens more practices across the region had been deemed eligible to get deliveries of the COVID-19 vaccine in the next month, and more could be added.

He said there was no strict timeline set down for the phase following 1b to begin, or for visiting medical teams to vaccinate staff and residents at Tamworth's aged care homes.

Locals can check their eligibility and closest vaccine centre online, or call 1800 020 080.

Frontline health workers can expect to be vaccinated from next week, when a specialty Hunter New England Health clinic opens at Tamworth hospital.

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