COVID-19 will come to our town so don't wait until it is here to get vaccinated, community pharmacist Judy Plunkett says.
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The message coincides with a relentless flow of cases amid the Greater Sydney lockdown and COVID-19 continuing to spread into regional areas.
Dubbo in the state's Central West and eight local government areas in western NSW are the latest regional areas to join the lockdown list.
Ms Plunkett, a community pharmacist and NSW Pharmacy Guild branch committee member, stressed the importance of timely vaccination.
"It [COVID] is coming, it will be here," she said about Port Macquarie.
"If it's not next week, it will be the week after or the week after. Waiting until it comes here [to be vaccinated] is actually too late."
The Pfizer and AstraZeneca vaccines require two doses to provide the best immunity.
Dr Simon Holliday, who runs a Mid-North Coast respiratory clinic, also believes COVID-19 reaching the region is a certainty.
The vaccination rollout continues to ramp up as all pharmacies assessed as eligible are able to come on board to administer the COVID-19 AstraZeneca vaccine.
"We are very happy to finally be included in the rollout of COVID-19 vaccinations," Ms Plunkett said.
"We know we will make a considerable difference to the rate of vaccinations in the Australian population."
Bookings for the AstraZeneca vaccine are open at Plunkett's TerryWhite Chemmart Port Macquarie and Wauchope with vaccinations to start on August 23.
Ms Plunkett also welcomed the announcement that pharmacists will be among the first to administer the Moderna vaccine.
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The Moderna vaccine is expected to be available as an option for eligible Australians from September 2021.
NSW Health vaccination clinics and participating general practices and pharmacies across the state are open for COVID-19 vaccination bookings.
Ms Plunkett said there was ample evidence that both the AstraZeneca and Pfizer vaccines were equally effective against serious illness and hospitalisation.
"The risk of serious side effects from either vaccine is so low when you weigh that against the risk of getting COVID, long COVID and long-term health issues," she said.
Meanwhile, the Mid North Coast Local Health District will move its COVID-19 vaccination clinic from Port Macquarie Base Hospital to 35 Grant Street.
The appointment-only new clinic, expected to open on Tuesday [August 17], will enable the local health district to expand its vaccination program.
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Lisa Tisdell
I'm a Port Macquarie News journalist, keen traveller, angler and cricket fan.
I'm a Port Macquarie News journalist, keen traveller, angler and cricket fan.
