Initially only health workers and others in the 1A category will be invited to make an appointment, with anyone aged over 50 who wants a Covid-19 vaccination, able to join the queue from May 24.
While both the AstraZeneca and Pfizer vaccines will be dispensed at the hub, patients will not be able to choose which vaccine they get – that will be dependent on their age and underlying health issues.
Touring the hub at 1 Fig Tree Drive last month, Premier Gladys Berejiklian said it would be able to scale up and down as needed and will initially have the capacity to dispense about 5,000 vaccines a day, six days a week, by appointment.
“We’re hoping, once we get our rhythm, there’s a chance we could do slightly more than that,” she said.
“If you are in two minds about [which vaccine to get] you should speak to your GP or get medical advice.”
The Premier also said the State was “keen to support the Federal Government in expediting vaccinating” aged care workers.
“As far as NSW is concerned, our job is to keep the public safe, to keep the community safe, and if that means expediting categories of workers that haven’t been done to date, well we’re happy to do that,” she said.
Health Minister Brad Hazzard admitted that updated health advice against people aged under-50 receiving the AstraZeneca jab, had caused a “level of concern” in the community.
He said it had also made vaccinating health care workers “rather challenging” with approximately 70 to 80 per cent less people showing up in their appointments to get the AstraZeneca shot.
Hub for vaccine
THE doors of a new mass vaccination hub opened yesterday at Sydney Olympic Park.