Tamworth COVID-19 vaccine rollout: first shots of Pfizer vaccine delivered to residents at aged care homes with doses to continue this week

Marlene Gilchrist is a resident at Bupa Aged Care in Tamworth and told the Leader she had been scared to go out much without the protection of the COVID-19 jab.

Ms Gilchrist was among the first local residents to get a dose of the Pfizer vaccine on Monday.

She said she always knew she'd roll up her sleeve as soon as she could to help keep herself, her family and community safe from the virus.

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"There are some members of my family who I have not seen for over two years now," she said.

The federal government is responsible for the vaccine rollout to aged care homes under Phase 1a, and it is now Tamworth's turn to get a visit from the travelling vaccination teams, who immunise residents and staff on-site.

Bupa Aged Care Tamworth was among the first on the program, and it's understood other aged care homes across the city will be visited in the coming days.

The health team will return in three weeks to administer the second doses.

Bupa Aged Care Tamworth general manager Tim Whyte said about 90 per cent of residents had signed up to get the jab on Monday.

"I think a lot of our residents are aware of the risks that are involved [with COVID-19] so they want to protect themselves and their families and the rest of our community at Bupa Tamworth to ensure that we reduce that," he said.

"Most of them say that anything they can do to get back to as normal as possible is what they are wanting to do and they are really excited about that."

Mr Whyte said weeks of educating residents and their families about the Pfizer vaccine and making sure everyone had "informed consent" had been a top priority.

Aged care staff in Tamworth could have to wait a little longer to get the jab, with the older people first in line.

"There might be some [Pfizer doses] left over that we will be offering to some staff, but our primary focus is ensuring our residents get the opportunity to get vaccinated," Mr Whyte said.

"We have lots of staff enquiring about being vaccinated as well, so definitely there is a strong interest there."

Tamworth GP clinics have been giving the AstraZeneca shot to eligible people since late March, and the respiratory clinic has been vaccinating anyone aged over 50 since early last week.

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