NSW regions behind in vaccine rollout are speeding up

The Daily Telegraph has devised a map showing which parts of NSW have the highest — and lowest — rates of vaccinations. Find out how many have been jabbed where you live.

Residents across Covid-ravaged south west Sydney have answered the call to get vaccinated in huge numbers, with the rate of jabs delivered in the region increasing significantly in just a week.

From languishing behind with one of the slowest vaccination rates in the state, south west Sydney has turned their situation around with 38.6 per cent of people aged 15 and over in the area having now had a first dose as of August 8.

It comes as case numbers in NSW continue to rise with 345 new cases in the community on Thursday.

Registered Nurse Sarah administers a Covid-19 vaccine at the Lebanese Muslim Association (LMA) in Lakemba. Picture: Lisa Maree Williams/Getty Images

Defence medics should be deployed to Western Sydney to boost the vaccine rollout, with the region in need of more resources “as a priority”, Labor leader Anthony Albanese said.

In a letter to Prime Minister Scott Morrison on Thursday, Mr Albanese said a “mass vaccination effort” in the parts of Sydney hardest hit by the Covid-19 outbreak was “essential” for NSW to be able to move out of lockdown.

“To achieve this, Western Sydney needs more vaccine hubs capable of managing large volumes of people,” he said.

“I ask that consideration be given to providing Australian Defence Force medical and logistics personnel to support the establishment and day-to-day operations of mass vaccination hubs.”

Mr Albanese said the Commonwealth could also help NSW by recruiting former doctors and nurses, as well as medical students, to staff the vaccine rollout.

Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gary Ramage

The 5.5 per cent jump in first doses in the south west in just one week, was about the same as the rate achieved in North Sydney and Hornsby, which have the highest vaccination levels in NSW.

This means, even though south west Sydney is still only at 17.9 per cent fully vaccinated — below the national average — it is not falling further behind.

Blacktown has also fired up its vaccination rates with an increase in first doses of 6 per cent in one week to a total of 45.6 per cent.

The Department of Health is yet to release more detailed geographical data showing vaccine rates, with sources saying the information could be provided to states on their request.

The worst performing region in NSW remains the Far West and Orana, which has achieved just 36.9 per cent of first doses and 16.3 per cent of second jabs.

Across NSW people under 40 are swarming to get any available vaccine, with 15,181 people receiving their first jab on August 11.

Infectious Diseases physician and microbiologist Dr Peter Collignon says the increased vaccinations in Covid-19 ravaged areas is a good thing. Picture: AAP Image/Mick Tsikas

Infectious disease expert Professor Peter Collignon said the increase in vaccinations in south west Sydney was “very good news”.

“It just actually shows you can make a difference to vaccination rates if you put in the resources, get the local community on side and get through any communication difficulties,” he said.

“It means there’s not actually vaccine hesitancy, but supply that’s been impacting the lower take up.”

Labor MP Jason Clare, who’s Blaxland electorate covers some the Sydney regions hardest hit by Covid-19, said the community were “super keen” to get the vaccine, but more resources were needed.

Labor housing and homelessness spokesman and Blaxland MP Jason Clare is calling for more vaccines to be delivered to hotspot areas. Picture: Peter Carruthers

“We need more pop-up vaccination hubs, more supply of the jab and we need more doctors, nurses and medical professionals to administer it,” he said.

“The pop up hubs at Bankstown Sports Club and the Lakemba Mosque have had queues going up the road, which proves there is demand for the vaccine”

Mr Clare said he’d like to see the defence force assist with delivering the rollout to south west Sydney to ensure those most at risk from Covid-19 were getting protected.

“The military’s job is to help save lives, well there’s lives here that need to be saved,” he said.

Dr Jamal Rifi is opening a pop-up vaccine clinic next week. Picture: Tim Hunter.

Belmore GP Dr Jamal Rifi said the initially lower vaccine rate in his local south west area was partly due to the large number of young people, but was confident things would continue to improve.

“We are breaking all the barriers down for them with more clinics and clear information,” he said.

Dr Rifi said a new vaccine clinic at Chester Hill opening next week would be a “major attraction”, with ­special care taken to employ staff able to speak multiple languages.

The latest survey by the Department of Health shows the number of Australians who have already been vaccinated or intend to get the jab has risen to 79 per cent.

At the same time concern about the overall Covid-19 situation has risen to 45 per cent, the second highest level in the past year.

Originally published as NSW regions behind in vaccine rollout are speeding up