Tamworth COVID-19 vaccination rollout: More local GP practices to come online this week as AstraZeneca program ramps up

Forty-six GP practices in the region were given the all-clear to become vaccination centres under the federal government rollout, but only five Tamworth practices received doses in the early days.

The federal government announced the amount of GP clinics with their hands on vials of the vaccine would be doubled this week, from 1500 to 3000.

And, Tamworth won't miss out.

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The Primary Health Network (PHN) confirmed more local GPs should have had the COVID-19 vaccines arrive on their doorsteps late last week, with the expectation they would begin appointments shortly.

A spokesman confirmed it would take some more time for the rollout to reach all 46 practices, but the expansion was a good sign.

"There are definitely a few more due to come online this week, in week three," he said.

The Phase 1b immunisation program kicked off in Tamworth on March 22, but the spokesman said there was still the problem of supplying keen doctors with doses of the AstraZeneca jab.

He said the production of the vaccine on Australian shores would help, but claimed it could take "a month or so" to start seeing the trickle-down effect.

"If people go online they might not find appointments available because ... [some surgeries] have already contacted their patients in 1b," he said.

"Because they only get 50 or 100 doses [per week] they might already be exhausted with pre-allocation."

Some local practices have a higher allocation of about 400 per week and are vaccinating more widely, like Northwest Health.

The government's online eligibility tracker shows the next surgeries to start immunising locals against coronavirus could include Tamworth's Smith Street Practice and Barton Lane Practice, though their booking processes could vary.

The PHN spokesman said none of the region's 46 eligible practices had pulled out of the rollout.

Phase 1a healthcare workers at the hospital started getting vaccinated as part of the state government program on Tuesday last week.

Talk to a GP or visit https://covid-vaccine.healthdirect.gov.au to check eligibility.

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