Tamworth COVID-19 vaccine rollout: hospital now vaccinating eligible members of general public with AstraZeneca and Pfizer

People aged between 40 and 49 have been able to register their interest and book in for a Pfizer dose at the hospital since Monday.

The clinic is run by Hunter New England Health (HNEH) and is the only health service in the region offering the Pfizer vaccine to younger people.

HNEH executive director of rural and regional services Susan Heyman said it was essential to book an appointment, with the first already being snapped up on Monday.

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"The more people that get vaccinated the better placed we are to protect the community," she said.

"Our focus has been on priority groups ... it's great we are now widening that and reaching more people."

Eligible people aged between 40 and 49 can register their interest for a Pfizer dose in Tamworth via the NSW Health website at https://www.nsw.gov.au/ and wait to be given an appointment.

Ms Heyman said there was "plenty" of appointments available and locals should be able to be allocated a timeslot without having to wait weeks.

Those over 50 should visit the federal government's eligibility checker at https://covid-vaccine.healthdirect.gov.au/ and book an appointment for AstraZeneca, and the hospital will come up as an option.

Authorities have reminded locals their first port of call should be their regular GP.

Ms Heyman said the hospital had the capacity to vaccinate about 100 people per day.

She said people from outerlying areas were welcome to book an appointment and travel to the hospital to get their dose.

The Tamworth hospital was able to start delivering the Pfizer jabs after the appropriate cold storage was bought and put in place.

Ms Heyman confirmed people over 50 can book in for AstraZeneca at hospitals in Armidale and Moree; and those two hospitals will get access to Pfizer in June.

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